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Do you know what it is? Would
you recognize it in others? Would you recognize it in yourself?
The following is a test to help you determine the road rage potential
Within yourself.
The problem is not the presence
of anger, but uninhibited anger - unmanaged anger.
Do you:
- Mentally condemn other drivers
- Verbally denigrate/belittle other drivers
to passengers in your car
- Close ranks to deny someone
entering your lane
- Give another driver a dirty
look
- Speed past another car or rev
your engine as a sign of protest
- Prevent another driver from
passing
- Tailgate or pressure a driver
to go faster or get out of the way
- Fantasize physical violence
against another driver
- Hoot or yell at someone through
the window
- Make a visible obscene gesture
at another driver
- Use your Car to retaliate by
making sudden, threatening manoeuvres
- Pursue another car in a chase
- Get out of the car and engage
in verbal abuse
- Carry a weapon in the car in
case you decide to use it
- Deliberately bump or ram another
car
- Try to run another car off
the road to punish the driver
- Get out of the car and beat
or batter someone
- Try to run someone down
- Shoot at another car
- Kill someone
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1 point for each Yes answer.
Score Yourself (the highest number
that applied to you)
| 1-3 |
The unfriendly zone |
| 4-7 |
The hostile zone |
| 8-11 |
The violent zone |
| 12-16 |
The lesser mayhem zone |
| 17-20
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The major mayhem zone |
If you answered Yes to any of the
last 6 questions, it may be time to get anger management
counseling.
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TIPS TO AVOID
ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS
- Don't offend people by cutting
them off, driving slowly in the left lane, tailgating, or
making gestures.
- Don't get into arguments with
problem drivers out the window. Give them plenty of room,
avoid eye contact, get help - call the police if someone
is following you or drive to a public place such as a truck
stop. Do not get out of your vehicle. Do not drive home
- they may follow you. Drive to the nearest Police
Station and hoot outside, do not get out of your car, or
open your doors or windows.
- Do adjust your attitude. Forget
winning - this is not a race. Put yourself in the other
driver's shoes. If you think you have a problem with yourself,
ask for help.
- Illustrate good safety, courtesy
and patience - they are all free. Practice random acts of
kindness. Remember, what goes around comes around.
- Do not tailgate.
- Stay alert for sudden stops.
- Signal your intentions.
- Let a bus or taxi in when they
are indicating to re-join traffic, and give them a big smile,
you will be amazed at the response.
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I found this test on the Lexington Truck Page,
I did e-mail them for permission to use it, but received no reply.
I have also adapted it slightly for South African readers.
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