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Photo credit: Kristin Oguntoyinbo/UNC |
Driving too Fast!!!
Many communities are experiencing an increased number of accidents & road rage in neighborhoods. Road rage exhibited most often on Interstate Highways has now moved to neighborhoods and what was once regarded as being respectful of the safety and rights of others, particularly of small children, has now escalated into driving through neighborhoods without regard for the safety of others.
Communities have found it necessary to form traffic committees to address this issue. When they meet with police departments they generally discover the following observations:
- Most speeders in neighborhoods live in those neighborhoods.
- Many speeders are young drivers
- Parents are not aware of the driving habits of their children
- Young drivers are more likely to have accidents when they have more than one passenger (According to David Williamson, UNC-CH News Services, “for 16 –17 year old drivers, the risk of fatal injuries during motor vehicle crashes grows as the number of passengers in the vehicle increases as reported by North Carolina safety experts.”)
- Young drivers are likely to be talking on a cell phone and/or playing music loudly.
Road rage is not just in the province of young drivers. Many older adult drivers become an entirely different person behind the wheel. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition defines Road Rage as: “Violent behavior exhibited by drivers in traffic, often as a manifestation of stress: “Motorists in the United States fear road rage, and the world's largest auto club wants anger-management education as part of the penalty for such behavior” (Brad Liston).”Road rage as defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a motorist's uncontrolled anger that's usually incited by an irritating act of another motorist and is expressed in an aggressive or violent behavior.
It was reported in “The Front Poach” the following story. “My son was a victim of a person whose temper got the best of him. My son was coming home on 32nd Avenue, and a truck appeared out of the blue and ran him off the road. The driver physically attacked my son, trying to pull him out of his car. My son managed to fend off the attacker and proceeded to escape.
The driver followed him home, attacked my son again, beating him up and yanking his keys and car alarm remote out of his hand. My son managed to get into the house all bloody and bruised. He ended up in a hospital emergency room, and he filled out a police report. The guy was arrested that evening and tossed in jail.”
Have you noticed that there seems to be a simple lack of courtesy in driving now days. For example driving too closely, not using turning signals and speeding up if they think someone is going to get in front of them. Even parking as become a problem, if a person knows that you are waiting for a parking space, they will often take their time backing out and those same people will run you over if you try to cross in front of them. And, what about those inconsiderate drivers who steal the very parking space you have been waiting to enter.
Some people, though, are like a bomb ready to explode. Their disposition behind the wheel is a culmination from stressful pressures; others just don’t care or have been poorly trained. We have to begin to adopt values that take others into consideration. For example:
- When you drive into neighborhoods/communities slow down. Driving fast in communities can only save one or two minutes, however, you can put many people at risk and greatly increase your chances to have an accident.
- Do not let your children under the age of 18 drive with more than one passenger. As a parent you must be absolutely positive that your child is a safe driver. Their life and the lives of their passengers may depend on it.
- Insist that your child takes driver training and consider defensive driving courses. Once they get a permit and during the first year with a license, ride with them so that you can provide additional instruction under all types of road conditions and in each of the four seasons. Teach them how to be courteous.
- If you child is reported speeding or driving while distracted, listing to loud music and talking on the phone, ground them for at least one month. This action can greatly reduce the number of accidents in neighborhoods.
- Leave early. Why live under road stress? Give yourself ample time, pop in a relaxing tape and enjoy the drive. Establishing this habit can add years to your life.
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