Report 4
Resistance To Traffic Psychology
e-mail me
Dr Leon James' Homepage
My Homepage
My fellow friends from
Generation Three (G3)
Report 1--My Travels Through G1 and G2
Report 2--My Adapting to the Internet
Report 3--My Driving Personality Make Over
Plan (DPMP)
Database Assignment Topic--I Can't Stop Wanting
To Be Rude to Some Drivers
Topical Index
Contributions
Back to the top
The Method To Use For This Project...
Resistance to
Traffic Psychology
is this reports title, and the procedures to this project is to interview
and work with two sources to observe their own driving skills.
Within my two sources, I will pick one person who is a peer of mine, and
someone who is an older family member of mine. I would also like to
choose one female and one male so that I can see the difference
in their resistance and their driving techniques. Because driving is
such a broad topic, I must choose a specific driving technique that my
two sources can relate to and can have reasons for changing themselves
to a better person in driving and in their everyday lives. Perhaps I
will choose "driving attitudes". Such as what are their attitudes when
they first get into their cars, or how do they react when they see
traffic up ahead, or how do they feel when someone just cuts them off,
or does not wave thank you, or tailgates them, etc...I want my two
sources to let out their feelings to me and tell me how they feel when
they drive an automobile. This project will take about a week to
observe my two sources driving skills. They will just drive normally as
they do everyday, but this time they will try to observe their attitudes
while driving. We will meet about 2-3 times during that week to discuss
the attitudes they have observed and I will be aware of certain resistant
reaction each source may encounter. During those times that we meet, I
will suggest some helpful hints that I have learned in Traffic
Psychology to become a better, safer driver and at the same time be a
happier person inside. Perhaps I will also throw out to them some of my
own personal experience with my driving attitudes and driving
techniques. By the end of the week, I shall have an idea of the way my
two sources drive, and hopefully they will realize their own driving
skills, too. But what I hope to come out of this driving observational
project is for my two sources to be aware of the way they drive, and to
perhaps listen up to some of the Traffic Psychology advice so that they
can change their driving skills to be a safer driver, and a better,
happier, and healthier person in general.
Back to the top
Source #1...
The first person I came across in observing driving attitudes was RY,
(I am using initials of person's name for his confidentiality). RY is a
23 year old male from Pearl City who is currently attending Kapiolani
Community College. I choose RY as my first source because he is my
closest, bestest pal and it seemed convenient for me to observe someone
whom I see and talk to everyday. Plus I am very familiar with the way
he drives, whether it is at night or day, rain or shine, traffic or
flowing lanes. RY drives from Leeward to town every single day,
including weekends because he goes out with his girlfriend and friends.
You can basically imagine his car racks up those miles, at least 280
miles weekly tops. Not only is his car familiar with driving all around
the island, but RY himself is a frequent driver who has much experience
in his driving techniques. Luckily RY was more than willing to help me
on this project to observe and share his experience on his attitude when
driving.
First of all, I asked RY to just be aware of the way he drives when
he gets in his care. Try to focus on his safe driving techniques. Think
twice about his attitude when he gets behind the wheel. Is he always in
a rush to get somewhere, or does he cuss and swear at other rude drivers
that drive wrecklessly, does he himself drive wrecklessly? While asking
those questions, the first resistant remark I got out of RY was, "I am
not a rude and wreckless driver, I am a GOOD, safe driver!" I just
replied, "Ok...well we will just see about that at the end of the week,
mister". And we both laughed. Now it was as if we had a bet going on to
prove that he was a good, safe driver.
RY has adopted to driving in traffic because ever since he go his
driver's liscense at age fifteen, he was forced to drive from Pearl City
to town, and vice versa, for school. And anyone who lives on Oahu knows
that prime traffic time is in the morning before school starts and in the
late afternoon for the "pau hana" traffic. Because of RY's long school
hours, he usually rushes home to beat the afternoon traffic. He feels
too tired and irritable to sit in his hot car in the hot sun, breathing
all the cars exhaust smoke, and waiting for the line of cars that is
bumper to bumper to creep up one whole inch in ten minutes. So I
obviously assume that he speeds and or he frequently weaves in and
out of lanes to hurry home.
Source #1 Observations...
As RY observed his first few days of driving, he strongly felt
nothing was wrong with his driving attitude. He believed that he kept
calm and cool towards his fellow drivers during the "pau hana" traffic.
And he is still most positive that he is a great driver. Ok, another
resistance reaction of his for this project. I asked RY to be honest
with me on this observational project, it is not like I will tell the
cops about him and get him arrested for telling me how he reacts. I just
need to acknowledge what Traffic Psychology is about. I want to help him
to become a safer driver towards the other cars around him.
Because RY was so sure that he was such a great driver, I asked him
to let me be his passenger for a day so that I can prove to him that he
probably has at least one unsafe driving attitude towards his fellow
drivers that can be changed for the better. I have driven with him a lot
of times and I know that he is not a 100% safe driver. He tends to have
this "rush-rush" feeling that he is late for an appointment or
something. And he always tries to find short cuts to get somewhere.
Well, RY was more than willing to let me come for a ride so that he can
prove me wrong. And again, he had a macho resistance to his driving.
Ok...so we went driving around from town to Leeward side about 2 o'clock
pm. We were not in bumper to bumper traffic, but there was a lot of
cars on the freeway. And on the freeway everyone was speeding,
including RY, so that they can beat the "pau hana" traffic. I was
thinking, "What maniacs!" Everyone was just cutting lanes in and out,
and driving at least 65-70 mph. Ah-ha! I finally caught RY's driving
attitude. While driving on the freeway, this suited-up Honda just cut
infront of him almost scrapping his front bumpers. Boy was he pissed!
He swore and cussed at the car with this major grudge to get the Honda
back for driving so wrecklessly. He sped up to the Honda and started
tailing his ass as if their bumpers were french kissing. That is when I
screamed, "RY calm down, we are going to get into an accident". Well,
the Honda got away, and RY quietly slowed down while he was venting out
his emotions. Right when I was about to say, "see...I told you so", RY
said, "sorry Ang, I realized that I got out of control and I could have
caused my life and your life". I was relieved he finally realized that
he can have a bad attitude towards other drivers when they drive
wrecklessly, and in this case, cut him off. That instant revenge reaction
that came over him just made him lose it. I told RY that he cannot take
other car's actions personally. You need to realize that there will always
be those jerk, maniac, and asshole drivers out there. You cannot chase
all those idiots. Plus, now a days, people drive with guns, and if you
pissed them off, they will shoot you. Learn to stay calm, remember you
have a life, and also do not forget about your passenger's feelings.
After we got out of that revenge chase, shortly before we reached RY's
house, we almost got into another accident near the residential area.
Since RY seems to always be in a rush, he tries to find short cuts that
will be faster. And in this case, because we just missed the
green light to turn left, instead of waiting for the long red light to
turn left, RY decided to speed straight up and make an illegal
u-turn so that we could beat the traffic light. Well, we accomplished
beating the red-light, but it took a tire streak, a spin, and some high pitch
screaming to strive that goal. Nah, I am just exagerating, but it was
a close call. As RY was making his u-turn, he did not see the black
Buick that was headed right towards us coming out of that street we
were making the turn at. It was until I yelled, "watch the car!" that
made RY step on his brakes. "Holy shit!", I screamed as my heart was
pounding. RY finally gave up. He noticed from our two little incidents
that day that he has to work on something to control his driving
attitude. If I was not there during his illegal u-turn, he said he would
have gotten shashed because he did not see that black Buick coming down.
Well, I told him maybe I made him nervous because he knew I was observing
his driving skills, but he said it was not that at all. We are use to
driving together. I predicted that he needs to slow things down while
driving. He is always in a rush to get somewhere. Perhaps he should
leave 10 minutes earlier, or play some mellow music to calm him down. In
actuality, he knew and I knew that he has to learn to drive the speed
limit, infact drive cautiously and follow the driving laws. And always
remember that your life comes first. Do to others as you want them to do
to you.
Back to the top
Source #2...
My second source I chose to objectively observe her driving attitude
was another close person to me, a family member, my sweetest, dearest
mom, SI, (again I will use person's initials for confidentiality
purpose). SI is a 50 year old female from Hawaii Kai who works in
Kahala area on weekdays as Century 21 Kahala Hale's advertising
journalists. She drives herself to work and home everyday during the
same morning and afternoon traffic as RY. But compared to RY, she only
drives about 75 miles weekly. SI has many years of experience driving on
Oahu. She has noticed the increase of cars on the roads during the
years, and she also became aware and frightened of all the wreckless
drivers on the highways. I decided to choose SI to observe her attitude
while driving because again, just like RY, she seemed familiar with
driving in general, and since she is a close family member of mine, I
can keep in touch with her daily progress in her driving attitude. Not
to mention, I am very familiar with the way she drives. She will
definately have different results from the male's point of view.
When I approached SI to see if she would like to be my source for this
Traffic Psychology project she asked me a list of 20 questions; "How
come? What is this for? Why me? How long will it take?..." Blah,
blah, and blah. Typical mom to investigate everything I do. My gosh, this
project should be all for fun. This is my opportunity to counsel
someone on how to be a Traffic Psychologist, and how to be a better and
safer driver. Also one can gain self satisfaction, and a healthier life
if one learns to maintain a systematic behavior improvement while driving.
After explaining the procedures to this project, and a bit of information
of what I have learned this semester in class about Traffic Psychology,
SI gave me her permission to be my second source. All I asked her to do
for the first few days was to observe her driving attitude whenever she
drives. I asked her, "are you happy, sad, mad, irritated, tired,...and
why do you feel the way you do when you get behind the wheel?"
Source #2 Observations...
The first few days of observations, SI forgot to be aware of her
driving techniques. So, the next day I had to write a big message on a
post-it sheet, "OBSERVE YOUR DRIVING!!" and stuck it on her steering
wheel. SI then began to monitor her own driving skills. I asked her,
"what have you noticed about your attitude while driving?" She responded
with a resistance reaction, "I am a safe driver, but the other people who
speed and just drive wrecklessly are the ones you should observe". SI
had a good point, but I wanted to hear from her point of view how she
reacts to those maniac kind of drivers. She said, "I am scared to drive
on the highways now a days. So many people speed and drive so
wrecklessly, we, the innocent ones are the ones that will get hurt, not
those daring maniacs that drive crazy". I knew from there exactly how
SI felt. What she said is so true. I know how SI drives, and she is one
that follows the law every step of the way; she wears her seat belt, she
goes the speed limit, she uses her blinkers, looks in her rear view
mirror before switching lanes, waves thank you, lets people cut in,
etc... she is a safe driver. I believe the one thing that makes her an
unsafe driver with that fearful attitude of hers is not being
couragous on the streets. She has to think positive about driving. SI
hates to drive a car. Any chance she got where someone else can drive
she will take the offer. Being nervous to drive, and not having
confident in yourself while driving can make you loose control of the car
if something was to startle you. And with the way crazy drivers drive
out there, one can easily just cut you off and make you swirve. When you
drive, you need to be aware of what is around you, and do not be fearful
of driving a car.
Even though the week was at its end, SI still continued to observe
her driving skills and attitude while driving. Infact, there came a day
where we happened to be going the same place, so we carpooled together.
Instead of me driving, I asked SI to drive herself so we can see if there
has been any improvement in her terrified behavior in driving. Well, she
was, and I believe will always be extra cautious when driving. She kept
her two hands tightly grippping on the steering wheel as she drove the
average speed limit. Then suddenly this asshole went zooming right by us on
the right lane and rudely cut us off. SI's reaction was she broke hard
on her brakes, which was a good, fast thinking process to do, but she did
not bother to think about the driver behind us. Boy did we almost
experience a head on collision. Because of that asshole driver that
rudely cut us off, he almost caused the behind cars to crash like a line
of train cargos. My heart was pounding, and so was SI's, but she tended
to hold that paranoid feeling throughout the rest of the ride. But
throughout this paranoid feeling of SI's, I noticed this attitude of hers
that she was not aware of. She became upset of that rude driver and held
a grudge on him. She complained for at least ten minutes about those
typical teenage drivers that drive wrecklessly. I told her, "aha!, you
are not only scared to drive on the streets, but you also stereotype
teenagers of being the wreckless, unsafe drivers on the roads. You are
upset with not only that guy who just cut us off, but at young drivers in
general". She paused for awhile, and realized that she does feel a sense
of irritation when she drives because of young teenage drivers. She
said, "there are too much cars on the roads now a days, and all the cars
tend to be in a rush when they drive. They are the ones that scare me
because they drive like maniacs; going 55 mph on a 35 mph highway,
tailgating slow cars, and always cutting lanes. I do not care for those
who endanger the innocent drivers. We are all trying to get somewhere,
just be patient". Well, SI said it all. She was right about everything
she was saying. My two cents I recommended to her was to keep up her
cautious driving, and to be patient with those who cannot be patient.
Just pray that a cop will be near by to tag those suckers that drive
carelessly.
I found it a bit harder to counsel SI on this resistance experiment
because she was a safe driver that just feels afraid to drive due to the
wreckless drivers on the road. I do not blame her for feeling the way she
does when she drive. I am sure that a lot of drivers feel that way, but
they try to keep calm and patient while driving. And I am sure that
everyone prays to God that they make it home safely. In this case, I was
glad that SI was willing to listen to what I had to say, and she was
aware of the way people drive. She was already a Traffic Psychologist,
but this time she had to observe her own driving techniques. We both
felt that this was an interesting experiment, and that we will continue
to observe ourselves as well as others.
Conclusion...
All in all, after observing my own driving techniques in
report 3
and during my counseling section with my two sources, RY and SI, in this
report 4, I realized that no one is completely a safe driver. Everyone
has at least one little action or attitude that can cause them to be an
unsafe driver to their fellow drivers. I was lucky to have gotten the
chance to observe two people, a male and female, who are close and dear to
me, and who were also familiar with driving. This counseling for Traffic
Psychology in this report worked out well with my two sources because
although they both had some resistance in the beginning and during this
experiment, they both ended up cooperating with me by listening to the
advice and comments I had on what I observed with their driving attitude.
Because they are both close and dear to me, I wanted to make them aware
of their own driving techniques so that they can become safer drivers and
a step higher to becoming a better, healthier person in general.
Back to the top