“I was driving on the motorway the other day with this woman behind sitting on my rear bumper. I turned off at the exit and she came roaring past me and gave me the finger as she drove past and cut in front of me before the lights! And I have no idea what I had been doing wrong!”

That little anecdote was shared by a friend over some drinks a couple of weeks ago as we discussed the seeming increase in poor and aggressive driving. Road rage is a topic I’ve encountered a few times over the past couple of months in conversation with friends, in the media or by witnessing aggressive driving.

I heard a chat on a podcast this week in which the host commented that getting engrossed in a good podcast when he’s driving had notably reduced his aggravation and aggression on the road, as he was less focused on what other people were doing around him in traffic. Even listening to music didn’t have as much of an effect, as music was a mood influencer – depending on what you listened to, it could mellow you out or pump you up, he said.

Now, excuse me if this makes me sound all self-righteous. But I decided ages ago to let go of aggravation on the road. It’s not worth getting riled up by the action (or inaction) of the person in the mobile bubble next to you, who will disappear down the road oblivious to the nuisance they are perceived to be, for your paths to probably never cross again. In that scenario, the ‘aggravatee’, not the ‘aggravator’ loses. So why even bother?

They’re on my bumper or driving like a dick, pushing their way through traffic or overtaking on a blind rise? Great, they’re obviously very important, and I’m clearly in their way – slow down and let ’em go. Besides, if their driving is going to cause an accident, I’d rather not be involved.

They’re ahead and can’t maintain an even speed, are on the phone, or are in a camper and distracted by the scenery to the point they’re barely keeping it between the lines? Fall back a little, give them space, and wait for a safe opportunity to pass. Again, if they’re going to cause an accident, I’d rather not be involved.

Do I get annoyed or despair at the way some people drive, wish the cops would be more proactive about giving bad or aggressive drivers ‘a talking to’, or fantasise about them … I don’t know … getting a flat tyre and sitting at the side of the road for a of couple hours? Of course I do; I’m human, and we all love a bit of karma and poetic justice. But I don’t see the point in letting my blood pressure rise, trying to outdo them with greater aggression, or proving how macho I am by driving equally badly to claim my rightful place one spot ahead in traffic. It won’t matter in a week, the next day, or half an hour.

How to get more drivers to think similarly? I don’t know. Maybe it goes back to last week’s editorial and should form part of driver education from a young age. Or maybe it’s a wider human condition or societal issue. As I said, I’m not trying to be self-righteous or anything, but perhaps we all should be … How nice would it be if we all just relaxed and got on with our travels, irrespective of the things others do that we let get under our skin.

Take care out there,

Gavin Myers
Editor