Raging Road Rage

"Thus it happens all too often, as an outlet whether of a permanent or temporary state of mind, that sitting behind the wheel a person's whole attitude changes as if the period of driving were not part of real life, but some stage between episodes of real life. Many think only in terms of 'other cars' not of 'other drivers', and thus forgetting all consideration assume a dangerously competitive or even aggressive attitude towards those other cars. The motor car offers man a tremendous increase of power, and by identification it becomes the driver's own power and will which are thus multiplied. The greater this uncritical self-exaltation, the greater the irritation when it is obstructed."
J.J. Leeming, Road Accidents: Prevent or Punish? (1969)

The above quote very explicitly focuses on the human ‘psyche’ that is vulnerable to the personality disposition it carries. I wrote this article to draw attention towards the horrendous acts people indulge in, deliberately on roads.

‘Road Rage’, each one of us knows about it, have read it or probably encountered the same. Although this term was first coined in the USA in the 1980s, it has been prevalent in our society ever since the driver took control of the vehicle.But ever since several citations of road rage in newspapers world over have existed from that time and place, for example, this from the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times, 2nd April 1988:

"A fit of 'road rage' has landed a man in jail, accused of shooting a woman passenger who's car had 'cut him off' on the highway."

Road rage is an escalated form of aggression. It has been definedas an "assault with the intent to do harm arising from the use of a motor vehicle’. The word ‘intent’ is of prime importance here and clearly demarcates the Road Rage from Aggressive driving.Aggressive driving does not rise to the level of criminal behavior. It includes tailgating, abrupt lane changes, and speeding etc. These potentially dangerous behaviors are traffic offenses, but are not criminal behavior. However, aggression is often observed to be a predisposition leading to road rage.

One such horrific incident occurred recently in the city of Porto Alegre in Brazil. There was a peaceful demonstration going on by young bicyclists to spread forth the message of reduction in the number of cars on the streets.Out of nowhere a speeding black Volkswagen comes andrams nearly 100 cyclists injuring at least forty people. The driver fled the scene of incident but was later arrested by the authorities.

This video will give you some insight on this dreadful attack

The perpetrator identified as Ricardo José Neis, 47 years old was said to be mentally unstable. The reason that was given by the accused - that cyclists were scratching his car while he waited for them to ride by.

Was the reason big enough that led him to commit such a heinous act? Was he really mentally unstable? Where is the role of enforcement in preventing such avoidable acts?

Whatever the case may be, it does not justify the murderous attack as it was deliberate and consciously done. This is just one incident out of hundreds that occur every year all over the world, some are reported others go unnoticed. I would just like to end this article with a thought….

"When involved in a road rage incident, take a deep breath and ask yourself if the actions are worth your life." ~ Grant Boles