South Africans are not known for holding back when frustrated! Our motorists often take their frustrations beyond stress to the dangers of road rage. Earlier today a nurse who killed a taxi driver was sentences to 18 years in jail. Judge Chris Nicholson in the Pietermaritzburg High Court said the accused had a long and promising career and that he regretted having to impose the sentence. The court however had to send out a deterrent message that violence cannot be tolerated.
In sentencing the following observations were made:
- Every driver can expect to be involved in a collision at some time.
- It is entirely unacceptable that anyone, even if he is the cause of a collision, can be executed by the other driver.
- Many drivers are irritated by the behaviour of taxi drivers, but they are not allowed to take the law into their own hands. They can lay charges of reckless driving or other infractions of the law against errant drivers at police stations.
But how can we avoid the risk of road rage?
When you find yourself in a stressful driving environment or when your mood makes you irritable and impatient, calm down, take a deep breath and relax. An aggressive state of mind will come through in your driving behaviour and affects your safety and the safety of others. Be courteous, content and considerate. Accept the fact that you’re bound to meet all sorts of different drivers on the road. Don’t take things personally. Try to follow some simple courteous driving practices:
- When you merge, make sure you have plenty of room. Always use your turn signal to show your intentions before making a move. If someone cuts you off, slow down and give them room to merge into your lane.
- If you are in the right lane and someone wants to pass, move over and let them by. You may be “in the left” because you are traveling at the speed limit – but you may also be putting yourself in danger by making drivers behind you angry.
- Allow at least a two-second space between your car and the car ahead. Drivers may get angry when they are followed too closely. If you feel you are being followed too closely, signal and pull over when safe to do so, allowing the other driver to pass.
- Use your horn rarely, if ever.
- Keep your hands on the wheel and avoid making any gestures that might anger another driver. That includes “harmless” expressions of irritation like shaking your head.
- If another driver is acting angry, don’t make eye contact.
- Give angry drivers lots of room. If another driver tries to pick a fight, put as much distance between you as possible. And, remember “it takes two to tango”. One angry driver can’t start a fight unless another driver is willing to join in.
The Arrive Alive road safety website has made available content on road rage and would like to invite all road users to gain more awareness on this topic.
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