Motorist-To-Motorist Communication

Signals have always been a source of confusion. It is easy to see how in today’s world the signals we use when driving can be considered archaic. At the end of the 1980’s, the National Motorists Association came up with a few proposed signals to facilitate accurate communication. These new signals had a variety of meanings to include an apology, slow down, danger ahead, lane courtesy (please yield left lane), pull over for problem, light problem (check your lights), need assistance and I understand). Of course I can see how this signals can be misused. Perhaps the real reason for giving the pull over for problem sign, is not a problem at all but the individual just wants to vent his rage. Clearly, this would also facilitate misuse of signals so much so that I have my doubts it would work. Would these signals really ease tensions on the road or create more problems? Just remember that every signal can be misinterpreted, and right now a hand sticking out of a car window often is assumed to be someone giving someone else the “I’m number one!” symbol, better known as the middle finger. While I see the need for better signals I’m not sure that this is the way to go, it might actually increase rage.

The second section I looked at was “Come out swinging positive.” Dr. Driving suggests that it is not enough to be neutral to another motorist. We must have coping strategies that are positive, and he gives us three levels on which to look at. These levels split drivers into hostile, neutral and supportive drivers. Level One is Oppositional driving philosophy which includes “intolerance of driver diversity” and “the desire to retaliate or be the enforcer” among others. Level Two deals with Defensive Drivers, who wish to remain out of the spotlight and focus on “treating all drivers the same way” and maintain “stereotypes of drivers and cars.” Supportive drivers, found in Level 3 do such things as “accommodate to diversity,” and “feeling integrated with the flow of traffic.” Clearly we want to move from Level 1 to Level 3 but I think it takes a lot of hard work, especially since most of us are starting from Level 1. I think that these three levels are a good representation of the populous, and agree that more must be done for our society to move out of Level 1 and 2 thinking and into Level 3 thinking.

Reference: Dr. James, Leon, & Dr. Nahl, Diane. Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare. pp. 171-175, 2000 Prometheus Books NY.

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Oral 11 (3 Min)