Report 1: G5 Looks at Traffic Psychology Resources on the Internet: How to control your Road Rage

Table of Contents
Introduction Dr. Driving on the Internet Dr. Driving's Philosophy My Favorite Traffic Psychology Resources To the Bottom of this page

Introduction: What to look forward to

Hi! My name is Jill Umetsu and I am a senior at the University of Hawai`i. I'm majoring in Psychology and I am taking Dr. James' Traffic Psychology Class. In this report you will find my summaries of my exploration into Dr. Driving's page and what I think his philosophy is. Also you will find my 10 favorite links concerning speeding.

When I first started this I did not know much about traffic psychology. I just thought it was about controlling your anger on the road while driving. Now I see that it is much more than that. There are techniques that Dr. Driving suggests, like the AWM program to help you acknowledge that you are too aggressive on the road while driving and offer suggestions on how you can change your behavior. There are ways like not getting upset at the other driver for cutting you off and to make up a reason why they did it, like they were going to get off the freeway and they needed to get into this lane. I think that traffic psychology is very important because so many lives are taken on the roads and if people know about traffic psychology it could make the roads and your driving experience safer and happier.

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Dr. Driving on the Internet: My summary

I went to Dr. James' homepage and clicked on Dr. Driving Says... which took me to the site. There were 13 menu items to choose from as follows:

1. Inner Power at the Wheel

When you first get to this page you can click on an icon called DYC CARtoons and you are taken to a page with some driving cartoons and some vignettes about driving situations. These are pretty funny so check it out. I think the purpose for this page is to give an introduction to Dr. James' and Dr. Nahl's self-help book on how to control one's emotional states while driving. I think it is to make people aware that someone can be a normally nice person, but when that person gets behind the wheel of a car they change into an aggressive, not-so-nice person. This page offers some solutions to these people who change their personalities while driving. Many of the accounts are taken from "traffic witnesses" who have volunteered to tape record themselves while driving. Among these techniques are the AWM program and self witnessing reports which you will read about later. All these techniques and Dr. Driving's solutions are aimed at helping people with road rage "regain emotional self-control."

This page has a good relation to traffic psychology because it will help people to notice their own behaviors while driving and see if they can identify themselves as someone who becomes an aggressive driver. It can help this person to control the anger to avoid accidents. It will help drivers to understand each other better.

This implies that I should take notice of my own driving personality and if I am one of these drivers to change and read these pages. I don't think this applies to me because I don't become an aggressive driver.

2. Interview with Dr. Driving on Road Rage.

This page was set up in a question/answer format of questions that people have asked Dr. Driving through news reporters and radio talk show hosts and he gives his replies. I think the purpose is to inform people about aggression and violence on the road. Most of the questions are on aggression and Dr. Driving replies with how to deal with the aggression. One thing he offers as an explanation why drivers are aggressive is because of a warrior mentality, thinking that it is their responsibility to teach other drivers a lesson. Dr. Driving stresses that it is not the other driver's responsibility to do this.

I think the relation to traffic psychology is to find out what causes people to be aggressive on the road and why people become particularly aggressive while driving. By identifying what makes people aggressive this will help drivers understand each other and hopefully make the roads a safer place to drive.

This implies to me that aggression will get you no where, except in an accident. If I am an aggressive driver, which I am not, to work on ways to change that aggressive behavior.

3. Three-Step Program for a Healthier, More Zestful Traffic Life

The purpose of this page is to give drivers some suggestions to becoming more rational and happier drivers. By rational I mean that you are not thinking of revenge when someone gets you upset while driving. Instead you can think of why you are getting upset. Dr. Driving suggests the AWM program to become a better driver. The driver needs to Acknowledge that they are out of control, Witness themselves being out of control, and Modify their habits to become calmer. Instead of always becoming upset when someone is tailgating you, use the AWM program and then you will think of a good reason why they are tailgating you instead of your old habit of thinking of slamming on your brakes.

Its relation to traffic psychology is a kind of therapy. If aggressive drivers follow this program and practice this when they are driving a car then they will be on their way to a more happier driving experience. This will also make the roads a safer and happier place to drive.

Its implication to me is to follow this program also, to try it myself. By using this program I may discover that I do get upset in certain situations and I should take note of these situations and change them.

4. Dr. Driving Says... Problems and Solutions

The purpose of this page is to encourage people to have more positive feelings on the road and to accept that you cannot read other drivers' mind. There may be a number of reasons why they are tailgating you and you should choose a rational reason for it by making up alternate reasons. Even if you are upset at that driver who just cut you off, you can think of a reason why he did that, such as: he was in a rush. By thinking this way you will feel better and have a more relaxed driving experience and not be so tense when you arrive at your destination. Give the other driver the benefit of the doubt because we've all been in situations where we've done things to upset others, but didn't mean to. Dr. Driving says to change your thinking form competitive to cooperative.

The relation to traffic psychology is that it will help make drivers more kind on the road. This will lead to more stress free driving and it will spill over into their personal lives as well. The techniques that they use to become a better and happier driver can also be used in their personal lives. If they are happier while driving then when they reach their destination they will also be happy and able to enjoy themselves. It will also make others feel that they are not alone with their road problems and hopefully make those people who recognize themselves change.

It implies to me that I should be more understanding while driving and not get upset if someone cuts me off and think of a reason why that person did it.

5. Introductory Statement about Dr. Driving Says...

I think the purpose of this page is to give an introduction about doing a driving personality make-over. By doing a make-over on your driving personality you will work towards becoming a better, more in control driver. Instead of getting upset all the time this make-over will help you deal with that anger in a more constructive way. Dr. Driving says to "practice traffic psychology for personal growth to acquire self-awareness, discipline, and the power to forgive." Being forgiving can be a valuable asset while driving because if you can do so you will have a stress free ride. After your complete make-over you will not have those angry feelings like you did before, but be able to control your emotions. By being in control you will have a happier driving experience. You may also find that you can handle your anger in your personal life better as well.

Its relation to traffic psychology is that it will make drivers in control of their emotions while driving instead of having their emotions rule them while on the road. By changing their driving personalities it will make the roads safer and their drive happier.

This implies to me that I should do a make-over on my driving personality and try to become a better driver by not getting upset when someone is tailgating me and not think of retaliation, but think of reasons why that driver is doing it.

6. About the Authors: Leon James and Diane Nahl

The purpose of this page is to give a little background information on the authors of the book. It gives a summary of their educational background and where they are now. Dr. James is at the University of Hawai`i and was appointed by the Mayor of Honolulu to the O`ahu Traffic Safety Council. Dr. Nahl is also at the University of Hawai`i and she studies how people search for information.

7. Chart of the Nine Zones

The nine zones is a 3 x 3 chart. One side are the three domains of psychology: Affective, your feelings and emotions, Cognitive, your thoughts, and Sensory motor, your actions and behaviors. On the other side are the three levels of internalization: Safety issues, Self control issues, and Social Responsibility. This page suggests that you take notes at the end of a ride and jot down your feelings from that ride. You should make notes of sentences that you said to yourself while driving. One way to do this is to leave a tape recorder inside your car while you are driving and play it back at the end of your ride. From the notes that you have you can then use the chart to find your driving personality. You will also identify what it is that gets you upset while driving. There are three steps to this:

1. Committment - sticking with the program.

2. Building your self-witnessing inventory - gathering your feelings, thoughts, and actions in traffic by using the tape recorder and taking notes.

3. Applying self-modification techniques - retraining your automatic driving habits such as tailgating.

By listening to yourself and seeing that you get upset when someone cuts you off you can then use the AWM program to change your behavior and be in control of your emotions.

By keeping a journal of your thoughts and what you say to yourself it will help you identify what gets you upset and you can work on dealing with the source of your anger. You can change what you say or do to relieve that negative emotion. Once you can get rid of that negativity you will be on your way to a more stress free driving experience.

This implies to me that I should do this and hear what I say to myself when the ride is over. I'm sure I'll hear things that I haven't noticed I say.

8. Comments by Visitors

This page lists all the comments made by people who have visited the page and left an e-mail for Dr. Driving. This gives an insight into how people respond to Dr. Driving's philosophies. Most seem to like and benefit from his page, calling it a "useful resource," and expressing their thanks for his philosophies becaue it has helped them in their daily driving routines. The consistent message that Dr. Driving gives is that you cannot change the attitudes and behaviors of other drivers so work on changing your own.

Its relation to traffic psychology is that it does work because these people have benefitted from the homepage and its techniques that it suggests. These people can now use the techniques and have a better, more stress free driving experience. And if you are a happier driver you will tend to drive better and also be a happier person!

I think that I should follow the techniques and give anyone I know who needs a driving personality make-over the address so that they too will change their old and bad habits.

9. Driving on the Information Superhighway.

This page gives links to some of the driving sites on the Internet and driving confessions. Dr. Driving feels that the frustration that these people feel comes from trying to hurry up when it is physically impossible. There is also a summary and some quotes from the page to describe what its about. All you have to do is click on one of the links that sound interesting to you and you will be taken there. Its that easy. There is one link that is the WWW Speedtrap Registry- this site warns other drivers around the country of speed traps. It gives a list of where you should slow down because there will probably be an officer there with his laser gun. Law enforcement officials agree with this, if used properly, because it can make roads safer.

10. Psychological Principles to Help Us Be Rational and Humane Drivers

This page gives some tips on how to be calmer, more relaxed at the wheel. When you are calmer and have more self-control you can achieve hassle free driving. Instead of wanting to get revenge you can let it go, say no to your risk addiction, and think that the driver had a reason for cutting you off. Or if someone is tailgating you just get out of their way because its not worth it to get all upset. You are only making yourself upset and stressed out, the other driver doesn't know that you are upset and he will just go merrily on his way. You will be left with tense feelings so its better to just forget it.

The relation to traffic psychology is that it will give drivers some tips on how to be calmer and improve their driving emotions so that they won't be so angry all the time while driving. If they are calmer then they will be happier.

I should follow these tips also and share them with family and friends so that they too can have a hassle free ride.

11. Self-Witnessing Exercise: What is your pet driving peeve?

The purpose of this page is to get drivers to 1) write down one thing that other drivers do that gets you upset, 2) what you feel like doing at the time, 3) what you usually do, and 4) are you satisfied with what you do or do you want to change it? When you can identify what it is that gets you angry you will be able to deal with it. Once you deal with the source of your anger you can work on how to make it less of a problem. These questions will make you think about why it gets you upset and what you do about it. If you don't like how you deal with the situation then work on changing it usong Dr. Driving's techniques. There were 11 people who did this self-witnessing exercise.

This has a relation to traffic psychology in that it will make drivers think of how they can change by first seeing the problem. By actually thinking about it they can work on solving it. By solving the problem they can then achieve hassle free driving.

This implies that I should do this exercise to find out what bothers me and what I can do so that I won't get upset because I cannot change others' behaviors, only my own.

12. Index of Topics on Driving and Drivers

This page gives links to sites that involve driving, much like #9. There are lots of links to choose from that Dr. Driving has recommended to cover any of your interests on the topic of traffic psychology and driving.

13. Dr. Driving's Selection of Traffic Safety Issues

This page lists some e-mail messages from newsgroups, specifically rec.autos.driving. This is the newsgroup that Dr. Driving is active in. The issues that Dr. Driving is concerned wot are Right Lane vs. Left Lane Feelings, Tailgating, and Social Responsibility. He feels that if you are going to pass you should do it quickly to avoid any problems that may come up. He does suggest that you flash your lights if someone is in your way. If that doesn't work then pass on the right when it is safe. About tailgating, Dr. Driving feels that it is just dangerous. If another driver is tailgating you then just get out of their way. It is not your job to teach another driver a lesson, write down their license plate number with a description of the car and call it in to the police and let them deal with it. You can leave your thoughts and comments on any kind of traffic or driving issue and others will respond to it. This is posted so that everyone who looks at this newsgroup can read your message. This is a good way to get your message out and receive some feedback. This gives you an idea of what kinds of topics are in the newsgroup and anyone can respond to your message.

This is good for traffic psychology because you can give your suggestions and everyone can read and respond to the message. It will also make others think about their own driving habits.

Reading some of these messages is good because you get to see all kinds of view points from people all over the country and other countries as well.

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Dr. Driving's Philosophy

I went to Dr. Driving's homepage and clicked on Submit and it took me to the Alta Vista page that lists all the newsgroup postings that deal with driving. Dr. James' messages are listed there and I clicked on them to read the e-mails from the rec.autos.driving newsgroup.

The threads that Dr. Driving was active in is: Slay Your Driving Dragon, Dateline NBC Story, Embarrassing Moments When Driving, Road Rage, Speed Limits and Driving Skills, and Hey, Tailgaters...

I think what Dr. Driving is saying to drivers out there is to use other techniques instead of getting upset and aggressive to other drivers while on the road. His philosophy is that you should respect other drivers and focus on good driving behaviors. When people tailgate you instead of getting angry you should just switch lanes and get out of their way. Getting angry is understandable because it is "an infringement of our human rights," but by getting angry at other drivers you just make yourself upset, not the driver who is tailgating you. Instead Dr. Driving suggests that you use calming techniques to relieve your tension. Dr. Driving wants to focus on making you change your aggressive driving habits and learn to become a more rational driver by being courteous and respectful of others. Accept that you cannot change the behavior of others, only your own. If you want a driving personality make-over then use the AWM program. As Dr. Driving says... Drive With Aloha Spirit.

Other people who respond to these messages seem not to like it. I think the basis for their not liking Dr. Driving's suggestions is that they don't want to change. For any change to occur you have to be motivated to work at changing the unwanted behavior. They feel justified in their ways of driving and their negative emotions while in a car. In one message from Slay Your Driving Dragon one person said, "But really, Dr. why do you post as you do here? I can't see where what you have written has had any impact on me at all," Another person wrote, "For someone who purports to be an expert on anger and its potential danger, you sure have a knack for making people angry..." in Re: Slay Your Driving DragonSomeone from Re: Road Rage...has the same kind of philosophy as Dr. Driving when he wrote, "Today I was browsing a car magazine site and someone suggested a site to discuss bad driving .. why not have a site to discuss good driving instead?"

My reactions to the reactions that Dr. Driving receives is that these people don't want to change their driving behaviors. Most of the reactions to Dr. Driving have not agreed with him. I think that they don't believe in using calming techniques or focusing on good drivers, all they want to do is grumble and continue with their old habits and not accept the fact that they cannot change others' behaviors, only their own. By accepting this they can then focus on doing things to relieve their own stress while driving and they will be on their way to better driving experiences. I think that all Dr. Driving can do is to continue to send out his messages because there are people who follow his philosophy and have benefitted from it and are happier drivers because of it.

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My Favorite Traffic Psychology Resources: Speeding

I decided to find resources on speeding, to do this I went to Dr. Driving Says... from Dr. James' homepage then clicked on Driving and Traffic Resources on the Internet. From there I got my links.

I chose The WWW Sppedtrap Registry because this site because it gives notice to the readers of speedtraps in their state or country even. When you first get to the site it gives a list of states and you can click on the one you want. Want to see Hawai`i's speedtraps?

I chose Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety because it lets you know of all the programs that promote safety on the roads. These programs and their advocates work toward getting laws changed and making new ones for safer roads.

The Driving School page gives a list of questions and answers from the California Department of Transportation's Driving School and some statements taken from insurance forms. This doesn't have much to do with speeding, but the answers are worth reading for a laugh.

This next site, NHSTA sets and enforces the performance standards for motor vehicles. I thought this was interesting because this affects everyone because these rules determine how your car will be built.

Speedtraps - What You Need To Know- v1.8 gives information about the RADAR, GATSO, and LADAR which are used to catch speeders. It gives a description of these devices and how they work. Also some information on other devices as well.

The Other Lane Is Always Faster gives the thought of a driver who switches lanes to go faster, but ends up going slower. I've had this feeling before so it was kinds funny to read it.

Rushing Around describes how people today are always on the go, rushing to get to their destination and as a result speeding on the roads. This rushing can often cause accidents.

This CARtoons page gives some cute cartoons dealing with traffic.

This next page, Driver Support Groups is for people who can't stay within the speed limits. This is taken from a previous traffic psychology generation.

P.A.S.T. is a page for speeding teens. When I first got to this page there were two pictures of two boys who were killed in a car accident where speeding was involved. They want to get their message out that "Speeding Kills...Dying Is Forever."

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