By: Shawn Shigematsu
Subject 3: Some Cummuters Enjoying ĪRoad Testā Rather Than ĪRoad Rageā
Subject 4: Air Rage VS. Road Rage
Subject7: Dr. Laura = Road age
Subject 8: Drivers Ed. For Current Drivers
Subject 11: New CSP Policy Toward Road Rage?
Date:10/15/1999
I agree that time has changed and people have as well
Hello anyone have any thoughts, opinions, concerns, insights, personal experience, and etc. regarding road rage? I guess, specifically, as it relates to BP. I have experienced many an episode of rage while driving. not good, I know. But reading about some other's feelings and experiences I think would help me understand more about myself. tanks! [ shawn ]
Personally I think road rage is a euphemism born from the increase in violent outbursts in all sectors of our society. When a person acts out anger toward a spouse or boss indirectly and while in a car, gee, it's road rage. Everybody has it now and then. Like a cold or something. I still believe in personal responsibility, and in calling inappropriate expression of aggression inappropriate expression of aggression. If someone takes advantage of two or three tons of steel to wield power, I'd say that person is suffering from an extreme feeling of powerlessness.
Do powerful pedestrian
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I fully agree with Daric Priest and the concept of how society is the force that is implanting these thoughts and ideas into our heads. Although individuals people must think for themselves, the idea of road rage must originate from somewhere. This is where society fits into the puzzle. Road rage is then seen as a label that is put on an aggressive behavior which is performed on the road.
Subject: Re: Tailgaters, beware!
Date:10/18/1999
This road rage crap is really getting out of hand around here. I certainly agree with this statement. Too much indeed. I slammed the brakes on some bozo that was driving like a clown once and he followed me all the way to the other side of town (Gwinnett to Cobb) before confronting me right in front of my apartment complex. The security guard could not control him, so he called 911. I had my thumb on the trigger of some pepper spray while I tried stop him from "bitch slapping" me, almost knocking my sunglasses off my face. When the cops did show, we told each of our stories. He told them how he was trying to avoid a fire truck that was racing down the road and I told them that he stopped in the middle of the road to answer his cell phone. The cops told us there were no charges because the incident happened outside of their jurisdiction. A lot of hot air for NOTHING!!! What a waste of time! I think about that incident and never care to risk confrontation over road rage again! I think people who get upset on the road need to either control their emotions or "get a life"! I also think using cell phone use should be outlawed while driving. [ Elbow Man ]
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This posting by Elbow Man was a very interesting description of a situation that is very scary. This man has a good understanding of his anger. I doubt that I would have handled the same situation in the same manner as he. He handled it very well by avoiding a confrontation with a person who was having a hard time controlling his anger. I was amazed the police officers couldnāt do anything to the person who tried to strike the other person. There was a witness present and I would think that the behavior would be seen as some type of crime weather it was attempted assault or battery.
I also agree with the last sentence that Elbow Man makes about cellular phones. The people who are holding phones up to their ear while driving is just asking for trouble. I use a cellular phone while driving, but I use a head set so that I can have both hands on the wheel at all times. I also give my full attention to the road instead of paying attention to the phone.
Subject: Re: Some commuters
enjoying 'road rest' rather than 'road rage'?
Date: 10/18/1999
While I don't care for the humdrum and necessity connected with a commute to work, I have to say that I enjoy driving. Right now I'm sitting in a motel in Woodland, California after running 3 Road Rallies with the Sports Car Club of America that I drove my car to get to. I could have flown and rented a car, but I really looked forward to getting out on the highway, away from work and everything else, and just driving. I started from Virginia, by the way. I start back tomorrow and have no regrets at all about the pending 45 hours I'll spend behind the wheel getting back. I will see a lot of pretty country, and not have to worry about a lotta other stuff I would otherwise be worried about.
[ DPH ]
Research indicates that a significant portion of commuters actually welcome the time they spend sitting in their cars. The time offers many drivers a rare space over which they have total control, a breather amid the breathless pace of work and home, phones and the Internet. In a survey of drivers across the country for American Demographics magazine, 45 percent agreed that "driving is my time to think and enjoy being alone."
Article continued at :[ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/daily/oct99/traffic18.htm ]
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The reason why I chose this thread to write about was to show that some people enjoy just driving on the road although there is the presence of drivers that show road rage. These drivers are those that just ignore the other drivers who display this trait of road rage and donāt let them ruin the time that they are having.
Subject: Re: Air rage vs Road
Rage
Date: 10/07/1999
What is the difference between Air rage and Road rage? I need to know!
One occurs when someone gets violent while driving. The other occurs when someone gets violent while on an airplane. Sure alcohol plays a big factor, but there are times when the drivers and passengers on a airplane are sober yet still act violent. I think it has to do more with attitude and their cognitive mind set. What do you think?
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I answered this response with the idea that the reasons for road and air rage are because people are trying to control a situation that they have no control over. The fact that a driver on the road has no control over the actions of other drivers on the road is a contributing factor to road rage. The same can be seen for air rage where a passenger has no control over how the plane is being flown or what speed it is going. A lot of people have trouble with a situation where they are not in control. I am like this also. I have a problem with situations that I am not in control of. I am working on this.
Subject: Re: "Road Rage"
in CVC?
Date: 09/23/1999
Is there a specific CA vehicle code section for Road Rage, Aggressive Driving or the like? There is no specific section for road rage. It takes on various forms consisting of individual violations or several, depending on the act committed.
[ Sgt Keith Underwood ]
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This was very interesting because a person asked if there was any code or law that covers road rage. Officer Keith Underwood answered this posting by saying that there is no law or code that covers road rage. Maybe the lawmakers should be made aware that there are people who would like to see this type of law put into effect and that one should be made up and enforced. This is where the trick of the types of things that law enforcement should be looking for come up. There must be a set standard that can be followed and not disputed by other people. These standards should include things like tailgating, speeding, and cutting in and out of lanes without using a blinker or in an unsafe manner.
Subject: Re: Road Rage Statute
Date: 09/25/1999
Is there any type of traffic law or statute, which specifically is, called something that actually uses "Road Rage" in its terminology?
No One would be charged with tailgating, unsafe lane change, reckless driving or any of couples of dozen other things that occurred while they are raging. [ IMHO ]
This makes sense, and it is easier to prove an action than a frame of mind.
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This thread is taken because it gives us an interpretation of road rage from a citizenās perspective instead of from a law enforcement officer. This is true that a frame of mind is harder to prove in court instead of an action. This is why a set standard has to be written down and understood not only by the law enforcement officers but by the public as well.
Subject: Re: dr. laura=road rage
Date: 09/16/1999
Finally, someone makes some sense in this newgroup! Yes, Dr Laura certainly promotes road rage with her female bashing rhetoric!
I truly believe that dr. Laura is the cause of road rage. I don't know how many times I find myself screaming at the radio while I'm driving!! Anybody else agree?
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I donāt know who Dr. Laura is, but if my assumption is true, then this person talks about things that anger some members of society. This posting shows how some things that a driver listens to can enrage someone. This is why when I drive in traffic, which tends to be the most irritating time for my driving, I listen to a radio station that will make me laugh or take my mind off of driving in traffic. I either listens to the news report on a radio station or a station that has a comedy team on so that my drive is not as bad.
Subject: Re: Drivers Ed for
Current Drivers, (was: Re: Drunk? Who cares?)
Date: 10/15/1999
I'm curious about what the drivers here think it would take to make the roads safer
1. States should consider issuing "restrictive licenses" to young drivers, 16, 17 yr. olds. School, work & no driving past 11pm, as an example.
2. Rigorous driver training. Driving at 25mph and back parking should not be the only requirements. Serious driving schools should be the norm, not the exception. Using Skip Barber as an example, train for the "real world". Car control, skid control and vehicle dynamics should be mandatory.
3. Driver retraining. A refresher course on the above should be mandatory every 5 yrs. As should eye test, etc.
4. Insurance discounts if drivers pursue additional drivers' schools. I had a great time giving my present carrier a hard time about not getting a discount after attending racing school. Why can't I get 15% off my premium for Skip Barber but I can after Sears? I can't see Sears providing me with better tools than Skippy.
5. Enforce existing laws. Why do we have "Road Rage" laws? Aren't there laws on the books regarding reckless driving, tailgating, etc.?
6. Through education, modify people's behavior. No left lane blocking, speeding when being overtaken (against the law), right of way, yadayadayada. I get all worked up about this all the time. People in this country really don't have the tools, knowledge or common sense to operate a motor vehicle safely. With all the PC rhetoric about saving lives and "it's for the children", why isn't driver training being addressed? Yes, I know that increasing the training requirements will definitely increase the cost of getting a DL. But, who said taking advantage of a privilege was free? And to use some rhetoric, "If it saves one life, isn't it worth it?" [ ray ]
80 BMW 323i
8? Opel (GT-4 SCCA)
85 Saab 900Turbo
90 Audi CQ
91 VW Jetta GL
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." [ Hunter S. Thompson ]
"There is no long way in a fast car." [ Gene-Dog ]
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I agree with all six things that Victor Smith wrote. The only thing that should be thrown in there is with number 1, people over the age of 55 should also be thrown into this category. I agree the most with number three where a driver should be required to take another test to see how there driving is doing every 5 years. The only problem is the funding for the people who will be doing the testing. The DMV is having a hard time with staffing due to the budget cuts that they are experiencing. Maybe if the state can get the insurance companies to invest in a program to test people every 5 years, this might help out on the cost of accidents on the roadways.
Date: 10/15/1999
First off, LOL that your handle is "Tranquillity" and you're talking serious revenge :-D. Second, can I hire you to do some "compensation" for me? :-D (just kidding there Mr. FBI Agent) You make some good points, BUT do you really want to have to take the Drivers Exam yourself every 2 years? What a pain. Not me. I do believe the driver's exam is too easy though- it doesn't include a lot of stuff that you need to know for modern city driving. Right-of-ways for turn lanes and center lanes, for example. Did you know that several states are starting to specifically ticket drivers who drive for miles in the left lane? They say this is a major cause of road rage, and they will write you up for obstructing traffic flow. (YAY - about time! I hate left-lane hoggers!)
Also failing to signal a turn will get you a ticket in some states for the same reason. They are really trying to head off any causes of road rage. Hey, for me if they don't have an Alfa or State Farm sticker, they better look out :-D) I think after a certain age, folks should have to re-take the driver's exam every 2 years, to get the dangerously elderly people off the roads. My Dave's grandmother had a valid driver's license at 95 years old! She took off one time and got herself lost in a sub-division 50 miles from her house once, and there was nothing the law enforcement officers could do. They directed her back to the major highway, and she was off to another adventure. That scares me to death, not just as another driver who might get hit, but also as a family member who doesn't want to lose a loved one due to a traffic accident. Also, even if you make driver's licenses harder to get, people will just continue to drive without them. That's already a problem. Two of the 3 people who've hit me didn't have licenses. Stiffer penalties for driving without a license would fix that. [ SherryB]
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I got this posting as a second hand message so there are some comments by a person named D in there. The bulk of the posting is by SherryB and is very interesting. The part about Daveās grandmother who is 95 and has a license is scary. My grandfather is 85 and I canāt even picture him driving around the block let alone on the freeway. The thing that people need to understand especially about elderly drivers is that their family member should also step in and help out when they know that the are to old to drive. It is not a case about age, but about how the personās mind is working. I have no problem with a 100 year old person driving if they are physically and mentally able to drive all the time.
If you can't afford car insurance, how is it that you have the LUXURY of a computer AND an online account??? NUS has a good point. If I was to get hit by an uninsured motorist and I couldn't fix me car, I would take something from them to compensate me for my losses. If that means breaking into their house and taking something, so be it. Life isn't fair, but I'll be damn if I'll pay for somebody elseās mistakes. This is the real world, and itās about time we toughen up. We think that if the police can't do anything about then there is nothing we can do, WRONG.
Everybody needs to drive but not everybody should be driving. If you get in an accident once in a year then you should be required to carry insurance for a year. That way, if you are a really good driver and never get into an accident, then you will not need insurance. They need to make the driving exam a lot stricter to weed out all the bad drivers. Granted people make mistakes on the road, but if you do it on a repetitive bases then you don't need to drive or you need to get insurance. I know that not everybody can afford insurance. Hell I couldn't afford full coverage until last month. The problem is that A) Cars are too expensive to begin with which means bigger payments by insurance companies when there is an accident B) Insurance companies are corrupt C) Stupid drivers. I think you should have to retake the driverās exam every two years. This would defiantly cut back on bad drivers (Especially old people).
If there are less bad drivers on the road then insurance companies could lower their prices. Besides liability isn't very high if you are a good driver and over 25. I use to pay $171 every three months for liability when I was 16 so I know that it can't be more than $100 every three months if you are over 25. If you can't afford it then, you need to get a real job and stop wasting your money. Truth is the poor are poor b/c itās their own fault. Granted no body is created equal, but there are plenty of opportunities to make a decent living out there. [ M ]
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This person M must live in a state where they donāt have insurance laws. This makes me happy to know that in Hawaii we have laws that help to protect us. The reason why it is help is because there are a lot of people who drive without any type of insurance in Hawaii. The problem is that when a person gets caught without insurance, the penalty is either a $500 fine or 50 hours of community service. A lot of people will take the chance of getting caught. If a person is caught once and they have gotten away with it for more than one year, it turns out to be much cheaper than paying $600 a year for an insurance premium that might not be used. Other people who donāt have any money will probably take the community service which calculates to about $10 per hour of work to pay for a fine. This is twice as much as the minimum wage is in this state.
Subject: New CSP policy toward
Road Rage?
Date: 09/27/1999
There were several reports on the TV news last week about how the CSP is now targeting those in passing lanes that are obstructing traffic. Their logic is that one slowpoke causes many instances of road rage. What got me however, is that the CSP intends to pull over people who are slower than the prevailing traffic EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT!! As I previously stated, no slow driver *causes* road rage. It is the raging drivers who cause their own road rage. I hate to see this kind of out-of-control behavior *blamed* on either a lawful driver or even a really bad driver. It's the wrong way to go. Yes, clamp down on drivers who are too slow or in the way (*illegally*), but don't say they cause the rage. People can just as easily be VERY annoyed and NOT drive like a "rager."Ź [ Maraya ]
Wow! What does this do to Weiser's argument? Will Weiser challenge this policy?Ź [ Jonathan Sawyer ]
On one hand, it makes sense to get asswipes out of the passing lanes if they are not passing. On the other hand, I can't understand punishing law-abiding people because of the "road ragers" who can't control themselves. And finally, it kind of makes me chuckle to think that the CSP is now targeting slow cars to pull over...it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
[ John ]
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In this thread there is the talk of how people in Colorado who are driving in the right lanes will be stopped for not passing in a passing lane. I guess that on the continent they have different laws from us in Hawaii. Imagine if this law were passed here. Everyone will get ticketed especially because on Moanalua freeway, there are only three lanes. This would certainly cut down on the traffic in the left lane, but I donāt think that it will cut down on the people displaying road rage. The people displaying road rage will find something else to tick them off in place of slow drivers. Road rage is not caused by slow drivers, but by the drivers displaying the rage.
This project was very good in that I had a chance to experience what a newsgroup was. I never knew that a newsgroup existed until I did this assignment. The only thing that disappointed me was the fact that no one answered any of my postings. Hopefully when I check back to the threads that I explored later, someone might have answered me.
Advice for other generations is to start as early as possible. Maybe if I had started in the first week of class, I could have had a response to one of my postings.
My Report1: Definitions of Traffic Psychology