A section called conquering road rage informs drivers how to conquer it. The first step in conquering road rage is to first admit the feelings of anger we all have while driving. Secondly, we should try self-witnessing while behind the wheel. The third step is to change our driving behaviors to become supportive drivers instead of aggressive ones.
The Federal and State actions section is about how states tried to introduce bills to control road rage or aggressive behaviors on the road. Twenty-three bills were introduced to the legislative and only two of them passed.
The Hawaii Bill that was introduced creates the offense of aggressive driving that includes operating a vehicle: 1. In a contentious or antagonistic manner that endangers the safety of another or of property; 2. With a willful and wanton disregard for the life, limb or property of another; 3. While either the driver or a passenger is brandishing a firearm, or any object similiar in appearance, in such a manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another; 4. In a threatening or intimidating manner with intent to cause another motorist to lose control or be forced off the highway.
I also think that anger has a lot to do with how we drive on the road. One weekend ago I had a chance to test myself in how I drive on the road with loud music blasting and it really made me turn into an aggressive driver by speeding and cutting turns. I don't usually drive here in Oahu and when I did, I felt so in control and when someone cuts in front of me, I react by behaving like a maniac by seeking revenge. Now I know why I did such a risky move because of my anger towards the person who cut me off on the road. What I also found interesting from this article is the attempt that states tried to pass bills that were introduced. Out of 23, only 2 were passed. The reason for this could be the unbelievable laws that would make the roads safer. The bills were a bit too extreme and were for only situations that occur once in a blue moon.
J. Baptista asks...
Quiet road rage...How is "competing" considered quiet?
Competing is considered quiet because there is no conversation going on while competing on the road. There are three other factors that are considered quiet road rage. The first one involves complaining, which drivers may complain to themselves or to others in the car but not to the offender. Secondly, rushing, it is considered quiet due to the fact of not using any type of language involved. The third factor is resisting, which considers drivers not to react violently to the offender's action by letting it go.
C. Flores asks...
What do you think about seeking revenge on someone who has wronged you? Is it okay to respond equally rather than doing something worse?
I think that seeking revenge is one way a person can express their feelings toward the offender. I am not trying to say that it is okay for someone to seek revenge but rather it is a way to make a person feel relieved. There are other alternatives a person can do besides seeking revenge on someone. A person can have the will power to forget about it and let it go. Another way a person can shy away from this feeling is to make that choice to turn towards letting it go because it is in the past and we can not do anything about it.
I do not think that it is okay for a person to respond equally rather than doing something worse. I think that a person does have a choice to either react to the action with full force or they can let it go and go on with life. It is not a matter of reacting equally is better than reacting worser because that person is still at fault no matter what happens.
I. Matsunaga asks...
Do you agree with the idea that road rage is a disorder? How would you explain why drivers get upset in some days and not others?
I do not agree that road rage is a disorder, due to the fact that people may use this as an excuse in getting out of a ticket and other factors. Another negative side to it is the way people can bahave on the road and not take responsibilities for their actions. There is only one positive thing about considering road rage as a disorder is the abiltiy to get people off the hook from rampaging on the road and claim that we had no control over our anger. But, I still believe that people may take advantage if road rage was a disorder. I also believe that there are more negative than positive factors to the idea of road rage as a disorder. The way I would explain drivers getting upset in some days and not others is simply, if someone gets in a driver's way, it is the driver's choice to act on the offender's action. It is all about the driver and how they want to feel that day. If they want to react in an angry fashion, then the driver will have a bad day, but if drivers want to keep their cool and let things be, then the driver will have a good day and is one day stronger from being classified as being a road rager.
J. Nakasone asks...
Is there other emotional or affective devices that also influence driving behavior? What are they and what are some driving behaviors that come with it?
There are many emotional devices that help influence driving behaviors. If a person is having a bad day from a hard day's work then he would want to just go home and relax. If a fellow driver weaves back and forth and almost hits him, he may react angrily and want to seek revenge or show how he feels by reacting in a rage. I think that what we want to feel before and after we get behind the wheel plays a huge role in how we are going to behave on the road and off the road.
As compared to other oral reports in this generation, I can honestly say that I did pretty well. I tried to explain my oral report as thoroughly as possible. Summarized the site as much as I knew how. I tried to make my page a bit more interesting by adding a little color all over the page. I wanted to make my page a bit more interesting and attractive to read. I also tried to make it easier to read the words and make my report a little more easier to read (choice of words). My navigation table is pretty laid out and easier to use and understand. I thought that my navigation table is less confusing and easier to spot when a navigator wants to see another report rather than reading the whole table line for line.
I thought that this site was very interesting. It was easy to surf through and very easy to understand and comprehend. I thought that this site could be more well explained as to what it motives were. My oral report on this was a bit difficult to explain to others what exactly was this site about. But, with help from Dr. James my instructor, I got to explain what was needed to explain. The written part of this report was that I summarized what I said during my oral report. Then I added my own comments of my own about the site. I tried to answer the questions asked by my fellow classmates as much as I could.