G5 Looks at Traffic Psychology Resources on the Internet: Road Rage...What is it and How to Deal with it Effectively

Introduction: Traffic Psychology in Cyberspace

Road Rage is something that we never talk about until someone gets into an accident. That's when we start to acknowledge that maybe we should start addressing feelings that we encounter while on the road. Even when we do finally confess our feelings of rage on the road, we tend to blame it on other drivers, saying that they're reckless and ignorant. Perhaps we should stop blaming others and instead, see what we can do about it ourselves. For example, ask yourself what can I do to relieve tension felt while on the road? Also, weigh the pros and cons and you will see that you have nothing to lose by being a safe driver. In my report, I will discuss ethical driving as proposed by Dr. Driving and I will try to shed some insight into the field with my own opinions. I have to admit that I don't always practice what I preach, but I have to admit that I am starting to act more conscientiously. To tell you the truth, I have never been an outwardly aggressive driver, but given a challenge, I tend to be malicious. When I first started researching on traffic psychology, I didn't know that the field was so advanced and excepted as a legitimate field. I always thought that if it was discussed, it was just to joke over the matter. Now, I regard it as an important field which could use more attention. Afterall, accidents are nothing to laugh over and until we find the means of alerting everyone, we have to keep trying by addressing the issue.

Dr. Driving on the Internet: Dr. Driving Says How to Become a Better Driver

1. Dr. Driving presents his table of contents presenting four interactive links, as well as cartoons and vignettes. He briefly discusses road rage by explaining this phenomena in terms of what it is and how it affects people daily. In order to understand exactly how it can affect us, he presents the cartoons and vignettes mentioned earlier, providing a comical, yet totally realistic look at how road rage can affect you on a personal level.
2. In relation to traffic psychology, "Book Chapters" presents a message to the reader who may not be familiar with the concept of traffic psychology. This message speaks of the workings of road rage as being a very real issue which affects everyone universally. As well as a brief summary, Dr. Driving also presents solutions to the problems of dealing with road rage.
3. On a personal level, I feel that instead of outright ignoring the ethics of Dr. Driving, as was my first reaction, I should really listen to him. This is really the first step in terms of reform. Then can I internalize the information, and then slowly start incorporating these ethics in order to relate them to myself.

1. This is an interview based on FAQ regarding "how to handle" circumstances. Dr. Driving also introduces the reader to the concept of "AWM"(acknowledge, witness, modify). He presents this in response to a study presented by AAA on the dangers of driving. People ask him questions regarding stressful situations on the road and Dr. Driving provides them with rational solutions, such as maintaining a sense of calm in any situation.
2. "Media Interviews" explains how to handle yourself when you are faced with a difficult situation in which it affects you personally. By incorporating the concepts of "acknowledge, witness, modify", you follow a three-step program that enables you to find the cause of the problem, see yourself doing it, and changing that behavior.
3. I felt that the information provided told me to be non-aggressive, civilized, and most of all, don't take anything that someone else does personally! Also, a lot of the time, you are faced with a problem on the road thinking that there is nothing you can do about the driving antics of another...well most of time, there is something you can do about it and Dr. Driving helps shed some light on this.

1. This "Three-step Program" sheds some light on the fact that a lot of the faults that we often blame on other drivers has a lot to do with our inability's to deal with such problems ourselves. In other words, in order to feel better about others' actions on the road, you must learn how to feel better about yourself first.
2. This program deals with traffic psychology on a more personal level, allowing us to incorporate the ethics of Dr. Driving within ourselves. This way, it's not so much what everyone else is doing wrong, but what you're lacking, in terms of dealing with stressful incidents that you may encounter on the road.
3. By incorporating these steps into your daily driving pattern, it will help you cope when dealing with crazies on the road. Also, the message that I got was that I am not superior on the road in relation to anyone else. In fact, no one is...If everyone consciously tried to make an effort at improving their driving skills, the road would be a much safer place.

1. Dr. Driving presents a place of haven for people burning with questions on what to do when stuck in a road rage predicament with another person on the road. Most importantly, his replies often incorporate his theory on the "9 Zones of a Driving personality". In his 9 zones, which he goes into more depth later, he speaks of characteristics including altruism and kindness.
2. The problems and solutions presented are personal, the scenarios are real, and Dr. Driving presents productive ways of dealing with these incidents. Also, along with the problems being personal, he incorporates his 9 zones in order to classify each person in their own category, rather than clumping everyone together, which would make it so much harder to relate to the situations.
3. The implications that I got for myself was that first of all, find out what kind of driving personality I hold, witness myself, then finally, change my behavior if it seems to be destructive to myself or others on the road. By targeting the behavior, you can cut down on its likelihood of emerging again.

1. This section allows you to apply makeover skills if you happen to be a person who seeks "inner power at the wheel", as quoted by Dr.James. He provides a summary of his book also entitled "Inner Power at the Wheel" which asks the reader questions on how they see themselves when driving on the road. If you relate as being an aggressive or a hostile driver, he provides incite into changing into a more calm driver instead.
2. This prescribed makeover allows you to make the metamorphosis from within yourself. Afterall, if everyone started to make a change from within themselves rather than relying on others to modify their behavior, people wouldn't always have to blame others for everything.
3. This section allowed me to admit that I don't always drive to the best of my abilities. Well, this is a big step, being that I along with a lot of other people, usually don't sit down and evaluate their own driving. By doing this, you know what your weaknesses are, as well as your strengths. in this sense, you not only critique yourself, but reward yourself as well.

1. This section gives us some insight into the authors credentials as well as implying the growing world of traffic psychology and its relation to the internet. It's amazing that only some years ago, traffic psychology was virtually nonexistent, compared to the present where people are actually specializing in it.
2. "About the Authors..." tells about Leon James and Diane Nahl as being some of the forefounders of traffic psychology. This field has really gained a lot of popularity in the shortest amount of time. It is crucial for more professionals to enter this field because essentially, this is the wave of the future.
3. This section made me realize how very seriously traffic psychology is being taken now, as opposed to a little while back, when it was a joke that you modify your behavior and show some compassion to those on the road. It makes me feel that I should at least listen to what Dr. Driving says and try to implement his sayings into my actions.

1. The "Chart of 9 Zones" gives the driver a character description of what sort of person he or she is depending on zones, domains, phases, names, and descriptions of positive and negative behaviors that this person portrays while on the road. This chart is subdivided into three categories based on the issues of safety issues, self-control issues, and social responsibility issues. If you are a bad driver, it is most likely that you start at the bottom of the chart at zone 1 and succeed upward till you reach zone 9. Once you reach the 9th zone, you are now considered a socially responsible driver.
2. In order to make any type of progress in the realm of traffic psychology, you must first admit to yourself what sort of driver you are. Whether you are a bad driver or a fairly good driver, you must always keep in mind that there is always room for improvement. By implementing these skills at an earlier age in life, you will substantially cut down on the levels of stress experienced on the road.
3. I learned from this section that I must try to understand the type of person I am in order to pinpoint my faults as well as my skills. Thereby, I will be consciously making an effort to reduce the occurrences of accidents, even if it is a person at a time.

1. This section provides drivers to ask questions regarding idiots often encountered on the road, as well as current safety issues. Dr. Driving's words of wisdom spread the message that yes, you are more than likely to encounter the occasional idiot on the road, but really, what can you do about it? You can't scold each person outrightly by shouting obscenities at them or flicking them off. Instead, what you can do is try to modify your behavior in response to someone that may get in your way. This way, you can save yourself the energy of trying to come up with an appropriate means of revenge which only wastes that much of your time and energy.
2. This section relates to traffic psychology in the sense that readers who face the same dilemmas and worries can vent their frustration in a healthy fashion. While venting, others can laugh at the realness of the situations and learn what to do about it at the same time.
3. I personally enjoyed this page due to the fact that it allowed me to laugh and know that road rage is indeed universal. At the same time, Dr. Driving provided some sound advice on how to handle the severity of stress, as is often felt.

1. In "Driving and Traffic Resources on the Internet", Dr. Driving lists many different links concerning all aspects of driving, whether it be speed limit issues, or the most recent statistics provided by AAA. Here, people can browse all the subjects and find which ones interest them the most. By doing so, you can take an active part in an aspect of driving, even if you are not always the best driver. By sparking an interest in one specific field, it may allow you to explore other fields as well.
2. The resources provided allow people to widen their horizon to the knowledge of safety issues facing road rage. Basically, you can educate drivers on the issues of driving, and then if they want to go out and do something about it, your mission has been completed because they are initiating the first step by themselves.
3. This section provided me with information on the specifics of driving statistics; in a sense, it gave me intellectual insight into the vast realm of traffic psychology. Rather than merely preaching the benefits of "good" driving, the resources provided allowed for an awareness among readers that there is so much more to road rage than meets the eye.

1. Dr. Driving presents useful advice on making the most of your driving experience when someone on the road is preventing you from doing so. In the long list of examples cited, Dr. Driving spreads his message in all of them, conveying the idea of spreading aloha in the way you drive. To some that don't know this term, aloha is an expression of love, therefore conveyed on the road.
2. This section allows you to learn the necessary tactics involved in driving like a rational and humane person. Of course it is not easy, and so Dr. Driving provides you with words of wisdom to encourage anyone who has ever faced a tough predicament on the road.
3. I learned that essentially, you should be mellow, always take your time, and remember to think rationally. If at any time you feel that stress is creeping up on you, follow the steps of Dr. Driving and you will not go wrong.

1. This exercise lists a series of questions posed in the form of "witnesses". Of the 11 witnesses, each one asks you a series of questions concerning your driving personality on the road, and how you choose to deal with unpleasant situations. By answering these questions as accurately as you can, you enable yourself to learn more about yourself. Also, by sitting down and answering questions about yourself, you tend to look deeper into the whole picture, for example, what you felt at a given time, how it affected you etc.
2. This exercise is an open-ended questionnaire that allows you to introspect about yourself and your driving habits as well as your pet peeves. Usually in a moment of crisis, you realize the stressful feelings which are invoked, but may not necessarily know what specifically triggered those feelings. By analyzing specific situations that leave you feeling hot under the collar, you can learn about what to do in order alleviate future stress incidents from bothering you again.
3. Alleviating the problem of road rage is so much more than simply knowing how to deal with idiots on the road. Instead, although we don't realize it, it has a lot more to do with how we deal with it ourselves.

1. The "Index of Topics" allows people to link to all sorts of sites with one thing in common-->how to drive. By exploring these sites, you can gain other peoples' incites into the topics of stereotypes of gender in driving, safety issues, and violence in drivers, just to name a few. In other words, you can search the world wide web of traffic psychology on this one page.
2. The element of traffic psychology is that by providing a thread through all sorts of different links associated with driving, you can form a universal bond with others on the road, even if they live on the other side of the globe from you.
3. This section seems to send the message that people should get to know one another, along with their opinions, and how they deal with road rage, etc. By wanting to learn more about other peoples opinions, you keep an open mind as to what other people may be able to teach you, while also taking into account that a lot of people feel the same way that you do.

1. In this chapter, Dr. Driving shares his opinions on the issues of left lane vs. right lane driving, tailgating, and social responsibility. Several people have written in to share their feelings on these issues that we deal with on a day to day basis. As basic as these problems may be, and no matter how often you encounter them, each situation you run into always leaves you feeling steamed. Thus, readers are able to vent on these issues which bring a lot people stress.
2. This section allows people to vent their problems, no matter how common they are to all of us on an everyday basis. I feel that venting about personal mishaps allows us to release the tension that we often feel on the road, when we are unable to express these emotions given the very moment and situation of the problem.
3. The implication of this page is that you should vent when you feel the need to, just don't do it on the road by flicking someone off. Instead, release feelings of tension by making animal noises, as Dr. Driving has said before. Later, when you feel the need to release in a big way, write in to Dr. Driving, and you'll find more often than not that millions of others will sympathize with what you have to say.

Re: Slay Your Driving Jan. 11, 1997

• Dr. Driving responds to a reader who states that although Dr. Driving is an advisor on controlling road rage, he seems to make them more angry instead. Dr. Driving's reply is that angry feelings are often internalized, therefore in a situation of anxiety, you may start to feel mad, but if you actually sat down and tried to analyze why you were so mad, you would see that it was in fact yourself who got you so mad in the first place.
• Responses made by others state that Dr.Driving has a knack for making people mad when in fact it is his job to soothe angry drivers. People can't seem to see beyond the message of what Dr. Driving is actually saying. In fact, this is the point that Dr. Driving is making by stating that other people don't make you mad, you yourself do.
• Dr. Driving should listen to what the readers say as being a valid statement, afterall, you can't just say that someone else is wrong in their opinion just because it differs from your own. Also, if they don't seem to agree with your viewpoint, don't try to force your message down their throat; simply let them know that they can look at it from another point of view without necessarily converting to Dr. Driving's views.

Re: Speed Kills - You Be the Judge Jan. 16,1997

• Dr. Driving's message is once again that we make ourselves mad no matter how irrational another driver may be on the road. Afterall, although a person may do something stupid to trigger your emotions, the more you think about it, the more you make yourself mad. Thus, once you feel yourself getting hot under the collar, realize that you are turning your anger inward. At that point, stop and let that anger go...do anything from mooing like a cow to singing at the top of your lungs.
• A reader has sent in a situation of a driver engaging in "lack of analysis and lack of courtesy" driving. Specifically, how does one respond when people commit irrational driving errors on the road? Also, what do you do when someone puts you in danger? The reader also raises the idea of a point system, indicating that you lose points every time you commit a heinous driving faux pas.
• I have to say that it is very hard to rationalize someone else's nonsensical driving habits in a way that allows you to simply forget and maintain a good sense of driving. On the other hand, what can you possible lose by maintaining your cool? Nothing at all. In fact, by getting mad and letting it affect your driving, you are putting your life as well as others at risk; while simply forgetting the incident will most likely allow you to feel relieved.

Re: Speed Limits and Driving Skills Re: All-Too-Believable Jan. 16,1997

• Dr. Driving's message is to look at yourself and assess whether or not you are a humane driver...if not, form a group of driving buddies and discuss your feelings and try to become the person that you would find to be more healthy. Also, when you say that others are morons or idiots, ask yourself why you are saying that and how it affects yourself as well as others on the road. Dr. Driving also asks what you can do in order to be a role model for your children as well as others who witness your driving.
• John Paramore wrote: "Laws can define behavioral expectations but they won't have any great effect on an ignorant nose-picker who makes thoughtless mistakes." He is saying that sometimes no matter what you do, there is always an inconsiderate jerk that puts your life in jeopardy by being rude and thoughtless.
• Again, I have to say that some people are just nasty and rude that it's hard to let something that they do just role off your back. For example, how do you handle it when a careless driver nearly rear ends you because they happen to be looking at the sky distractedly? I would find this very hard to let go of, especially by singing a song to myself. I would suggest to Dr. Driving that you find a means for drivers to get revenge, or possibly give them a taste of their own medicine without hurting anyone or putting them in danger.

Re: Dateline NBC Story Jan.20,1997

• Dr. Driving's message is that before labeling anyone as a idiot or moron, realize that they are not there to defend themselves. Specifically, you can label peoples actions as being stupid without labeling the person themselves as being stupid. This way you incorporate the idea of fairness, as well as being rationale and humane. Afterall, haven't you ever done anything stupid without meaning to do it? I think that we all have and wouldn't appreciate it if someone were to call us idiots.
• Tigress writes "Oh, the save the idiots at the expense of the masses freedom, huh? The reason why there are such idiots out there is because we limit too much." Obviously, she doesn't accept Dr. Driving's cheery philosophy of accepting other drivers when they happen to commit a driving offense, whether it be intentional or unintentional. She is stating that we are being too lenient with the idiots on the road by saying that it's okay to everything that they do.
• I would say to Tigress first of all, that she resolve her temper within herself. She seems to be a very angry person looking to blame the internal flames of herself onto others by hoping that they do something wrong. Perhaps she should put herself into a situation where she acted stupidly on the road before and think if she really meant to do it recklessly or could she have been in a hurry? By putting yourself into a similar situation, you will soon realize that everyone has done something stupid without meaning to.

Re: Slay Your Driving Dragon Dec.25,1996

• Dr. Driving is commenting on the lack of driver's education provided here in the U.S. and feels that to make up in the lacking, we ought to teach ourselves the ethics of driving. By telling ourselves that we must do something about our own driving behaviors, we are shifting away from trying to lay the blame on others. Therefore, society as a whole would stop blaming the so-called idiots and morons, and alleviate the overall tension and hostility being felt by everyone.
• John Weir quotes " We provide a pathetic example to the world when we let 16yr old drivers take control of a lethal weapon with so little training, especially the emergency situation training. There aren't too many outside of our country that will look upon our driving institutions with any respect until this is changed." First of all, I have to say that I agree with him when he talks about the disregard which our society has in dealing with road rage awareness. If anything, a car can be just as dangerous as a lethal weapon if used in the wrong way.
• First of all, a bravo must be sent out to John Weir for his insight into the problems of driving in society. It seems that no one has ever really listened to Dr. Driving without criticizing what he had to say. Instead this responder not only incorporates what Dr. Driving says, but gives his own insight as well. I think it's a very good idea to start putting more emphasis on the dangers behind driving.

Re: Slay Your Driving Dragon Dec.25,1996

• Dr. Driving embarks on the notion of "facilitative driving" as being compassionate, positive driving. He says that if we all consciously made an effort to drive compassionately, meaning that we allow forgiveness when others make mistakes, those poor drivers will start to want to learn to become better drivers. He also says that by doing so, will only improve conditions on the road.
• Chuck Tomlinson writes "It seems to me that "facilitative driving" means smiling as you allow obnoxious and/or clueless drivers to endanger other drivers with their recklessness! No, thanks. I'll continue to practice "courteous driving", where my courtesy does *not* extend to the people who are endangering my well-being (and others'). I have to say that when it comes to endangering people, I really can't see myself being a compassionate driver as well! I think that the majority of people would feel the same, given that them or a member of their family were being put in danger by another's carelessness.
• Dr. Driving should acknowledge that when people jeopardize others, the victim in the situation should have the right to be mad. I think that Dr. Driving should think about this and devise a method in which people can rightfully express their anger in a justified means. It's somewhat impossible to expect people to be understanding when they were nearly killed by that person.

Re: Slaying Your Driving Dragon Jan. 2,1997

• Dr. Driving is using "dragon" as a metaphor of the inner demons that hinder most peoples driving. He says by conquering your dragon, which is an extension of your anger, you will let go of what is holding you back from becoming a better driver.
• Wow, I would quote some of the stuff that C.R. Krieger said, but it's rather nasty...What he basically says is that the "dragon" is a stupid metaphor for people, and that inner dragons are not what causes road rage. Given his statement, it really seems that he takes offense when Dr. Driving says that we must conquer our own demons in order to resolve other issues on the road. Although the saying is not meant to be a personal insult to anyone's driving, he seems to be taking it a bit too personally. Perhaps he is one of the few on the road who like to drive recklessly and perhaps that is why he is taking it so personally.
• First of all I say to Dr. Driving, accept it...people are bound to feel differently. Just try to send your positive message and hope that people at least hear what you're saying. You can't expect people to change their feelings overnight. On the other hand, to the reader I say, don't take it personally and why are you getting so offended? It seems that he knows his faults and therefore he is getting so angered by Dr. Driving's comments.

Re: Speed Limits and Driving Skills Re: All-Too Believable Jan. 3,1997

• Dr. Driving says that if we all learn to drive better, society would be a happier and more economically sound place. Specifically, the less accidents we have on the road, and thus less energy we waste, driving would not be as feared or unenjoyable. He also says that we would be able to raise the speed limit as well, therefore ensuring happiness in everyone.
• Since there were no readers' responses, I will provide my own. In terms of what Dr. Driving said about being able to raise the speed limit if everyone were to drive conscientiously, I agree wholeheartedly. I have to admit that I've never thought about it from this perspective, but by incorporating safer driving practices and raising the speed limit, everyone would be much happier.
• As advice to Dr. Driving I say yes. I think it's a simple plan and if everyone acted upon it together, this world would be a much happier place. On the other hand, you would really have to incorporate the importance of safety in driving. Otherwise, we would have a bunch of speeding idiots on the road. I see this issue as similar to teaching kids in a classroom; if everyone doesn't move to the next level together, you can't move at all.

Re: Hey, Tailgaters... Jan. 20,1997

• Dr. Driving gives advice on how to protect yourself from tailgaters. He says that safety is an important element meaning that instead of slamming on your brakes when you find someone tailing you, you should move out of the tailgaters way. By giving in to your anger you put yourself at risk when you challenge the tailgater to rear end you in order to teach him a lesson.
• Novusvox wrote, "The next time you try to "hurry me" along when it is obvious I can't go any faster because of the long line of cars in front of me, I'm going to slam on my brakes. Hope you've got good insurance, assholes. " He seems angered at the tailgater, on the other hand, it seems that he's not fixing or resolving anything by shouting insults at anyone. He should move out of the way instead of challenging every guy who happens to be in a hurry on the road.
• Well, in response to what Dr. Driving is saying, I also agree that you should get yourself out of harms way in any situation, and most of all, don't irritate them even more! I can't help it though...I also have to admit that if someone's tailgating me, sometimes I just block them just to give them the message that they're irritating me. Even though I may not be putting anyone in harms way, I realize that I'm aggravating the situation instead of resolving it. To Dr. Driving I say keep sending the message of peace...

My Favorite Traffic Psychology Resources: Ten Links to Start You Off

1. Welcome to the Road Rage Quiz...I picked this site because I thought it took a comedic look at road rage and all its glory. Also, you can take the quiz yourself to find out how well you rate when it comes to road rage.
2. Red Zone '95...This link provides a hysterical look at what could be a real road rage experience.
3. Peter Russell's "What colour are you driving today?"...This is an another self-assessment page that categorizes you in terms of what color driver you are on the road.
4. Are You in Love with Your Car?...If you have a love/hate relationship with your car/traffic jams, this is the link to go to. They give you information on what is being done socially as well as environmentally.
5. Daily Record Sunday Mail "GIRL, 16, DROVE CRASH CAR AT 110MPH"...This is only one of many real life stories dealing with road rage as recorded in the Daily Record.
6. Harrogate Group of Advanced Motorists...This is an organization that collects new information monthly, on various topics of traffic psychology.
7. AA Motoring Update...This is a news bulletin provided by AA on the deadly statistics of driving on the road.
8. Car - Auto - Traffic Accident Family Web Site...This is a link that provides you with information on how to deal with stress when it comes to car accidents.
9. AAA Foundation's Road Rage News Release and Report Summary...This site lists all the vital statistics of aggressive drivers on the road.
10. CORNHILL TAKES A TOUGH STANCE ON "ROAD RAGE"...Cornhill Insurance says that they will start imposing tough convictions on aggressive drivers that have got into an accident.