Laws and Ordinances
The Age of Rage: Psychology of Rage in Public Places-Driving
Laws and Ordinances
Linda Ure
April 23, 2001, pp 219-222
Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare, by Dr. Leon James & Dr. Diane Nahl, New York: Prometheus Books. 2000.
Laws are society's way of trying to ameliorate a defined problem. We wish to reduce fatalities, injuries, stress, fear, negativity, cynicism, pollution, and aggressive drivers while increasing productivity. That's a tall order to fill. What these listed items have in common are drivers and vehicles.
Since 1980 we have coined a new phrase: ROAD RAGE. Having identified a portion of the problem, we begin the legislative process of lawmaking to ameliorate the cause and effect of aggressive driving. Congressional hearing studied reports and listened to testimony and became aware of increases in death tolls not related to safer vehicles and safer infrastructure. The cost to the nation and the individual families affected by this death, injury, lost job hours in now measured in billions of dollars each year. Definition of aggressive driving had to be clearly established so as to prepare legislation so that enforcement agencies could begin to deal with the problem.
| The Department defines aggressive driving as
driving behavior that endangers or is likely to
endanger people or property. This definition
includes a broad spectrum of driving behaviors,
ranging from risky driving and escalating to dueling
and violence on the road. Aggressive drivers are
more likely to: Speed, tailgate, fail to yield, weave
in-and-out of traffic, pass on the right, make
improper and unsafe lane changes, run stop signs
and red lights, make hand and facial gestures,
scream, honk, and flash their lights, climb into the
anonymity of an automobile and take out their
frustrations on others at any time, allow high
frustration levels to diminish any concern for fellow
motorists, be impaired by alcohol or drugs, and
drive unbelted or take other unsafe actions.
1. National Highway Traffic Safety |
The seriousness of the problem is demonstrated by the necessity to write new laws to address the problem. It is our problem. We made it one driver at a time. We made the problem, year after year, mostly by not paying enough attention to the hectic pace we live and the requirements we place on ourselves to be "on time" even when it infringes on the rights of others. Time has become money. People have become less important. Life is measured in accumulated wealth. We can change all that. One person at a time. The laws are just a reflection of public concern over the lack of regard for our fellow humans. We have temporarily lost sight of the value of a human life. We are now coming to terms with what we have done. The pendulum swings back to center. Aggressive driving has replaced drunk driving as our worst highway problem (James 221). By addressing the aggressive driving issue with laws, we tighten the ability to enforce safer driving practices on some of us to protect most of us. As society changes the laws governing society need to change. Step by step, we grow into our new found freedoms and learn to be responsible for our many privileges. This is how America is supposed to work.
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