Managing road rage - CNA Insider

[JayyX]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/road-rage-singaporean-drivers-anger-management--11126586

 

On Channel NewsAsia's talking point show a couple of days ago on the topic of road rage.

 

Interesting article... Food for thought  

 

Inside road rage: What turns Singaporean drivers into monsters?

All it takes is an “idiot driver” hogging the lane to set him off.

 

“It gets my blood boiling,” said the radio show caller who identified himself as Sin. “And the next thing I’d do is, I’d overtake him. I’d look at him, point the finger at him, call him to the side road, and then we settle it like men.”

 

Asked by 938NOW host Keith de Souza about facing the consequences, legal or otherwise, of his actions, he said: “I don’t care.” “If a man is angry, he’s angry,” he said simply.

 

Sin, who has been driving for more than 40 years, is not alone. Videos of road rage incidents on Singapore’s roads have been viral fodder on social media, while related court cases have made the headlines.

 

According to a survey by insurer AXA, one in two Singaporean drivers feel that the roads have become less safe compared to three years ago – citing more aggressive drivers as the top reason.

 

So what is it that is setting off seemingly normal people once they get behind the wheel?

In a recent episode, the programme Talking Point delved into the question by getting into a car with a a driver who is candidate for road rage.

 

Mac, as he wanted to be known, does not look like an angry person. In fact the 42-year-old project manager’s friend, Siva, described him as “a really awesome dude” – except for his “horrible temper” that “translates into his driving”.

 

Mac admits that getting angry while driving is normal for him. He said: "I believe that's how it is on Singapore roads; a lot of people are stressed"

 

“Sometimes, you start the day with certain emotions after leaving your home or workplace. The first few guys who cut in without signalling, you try to be ‘okay, never mind’.

 

“But then it happens again – and it hits you to the maximum. You want to show some sign language to tell him that this is not okay.” Once, he even got out of his car to snap at the other driver.

 

Talking Point host Steven Chia soon got a taste of Mac’s impatience. A bus on his left moved too slowly for Mac, and he sped ahead to cut it off – earning a honk from the bus driver. 

 

Asked if he felt that was “slightly aggressive” driving, Mac sheepishly agreed. “I was also thinking there was a car following behind me … I could be wrong."

 

ENTITLED DRIVERS

Asked why he thought there was so much road rage in Singapore, ROADS.SG founder Aloysius Fong noted that cars were very expensive here.

 

“And so, the car will always be a treasured item. If you come close and you threaten my car or me, I will react straightaway,” he said.

 

His director, Jason Lim, also attributed it to a sense of entitlement. “Everyone feels like they're right in these instances. Which is very amusing – it’s why they all send us their videos,” he said. ROADS.SG, which has about 200,000 followers, gets nearly 30 video submissions a day capturing all sorts of incidents on the roads.  

 

One type of driver, in particular, is often generalised as acting entitled: Those who own flashy and expensive cars.

 

Mr Lester Tang, marcoms director of Sports Car Club (Singapore) – which educates its 120 members to be gracious on the road – agreed that there’s the impression that if one has a high-powered sports car, one must be an aggressive driver. “(But) sports car or not, road rage is a personality thing,” he said.

 

Club president Rosalind Choo said she is not an angry driver, but has been the brunt of other drivers’ aggression. Once, she accidentally knocked another car while opening the door of her Lamborghini and apologised for it.

 

“The next thing (the other driver) said was: ‘Don’t think that driving a supercar is a big deal.' I don’t know where she got that from.”

 

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

Can road rage be reined in?

 

There is no specific law here that deals with road rage, but it is treated as a criminal offence once it becomes a case of voluntarily causing hurt. The number of such cases that involve road rage has actually dropped by nearly 30 per cent – from 90 in 2013 to 66 in 2017.

 

On a personal level, though, grappling with one’s anger demons can seem daunting. One 938NOW caller described it as something that “takes over” a person. “You're out of control. When it happens, you are not yourself,” said the man, Mr Chan.

 

But Mac was open to giving it a go at the Singapore Counselling Centre, which sees more than 70 clients a month who need help managing their anger.

 

Mr Warton Ong, a professional counsellor, suggested an easy deep breathing technique – inhaling through one’s nose, holding for about four seconds, and exhaling slowly through pursed lips.

“When we’re triggered, our breathing becomes very chaotic,” he explained. “It inhibits the way you think, feel and act.

 

"Once we're able to stabilise out breathing, then we get the thinking brain back in action."

 

"And we’ll realise, ‘I need not retaliate, because that will endanger my life’.”

 

Mr Ong also showed Mac what he calls “thinking traps”, such as “should statements” – telling yourself that things should be the way you hope or expect them to be.

 

Mac agreed that sometimes he is too quick to judge and blame others. He reckoned that he should focus more on his driving and less on others’.

 

DID HE IMPROVE?

Mac said he would try to apply Mr Ong’s suggestions in his daily driving routine – and after three weeks, Talking Point put his patience to the test.

 

With senior instructor Mr Low Kar Yoong from the Singapore Safety Driving Centre secretly taking on the role of a bad driver, Mac was put through a few scenarios.

 

In one, Mr Low drove slowly and uncertainly in front of Mac, who decided to overtake the road hog. Mr Low sounded his horn and Mac waved him off.

 

Mr Low then cut into Mac’s lane and jammed on his brakes. Mac high-beamed him and sounded his horn.

 

Finally, Mr Low cut into Mac’s lane again and made an abrupt left turn, and Mac did not react – he stayed calm.

 

“I put myself in that position ... Sometimes we miss a spot and you want to turn. It could be me,” he reasoned.

 

Giving his assessment afterwards, Mr Low said he thought Mac responded pretty well, pointing out that he “didn’t do any dangerous manoeuvres like overtaking me abruptly”. He added: “Some horning or high beams is fine to prevent accidents from happening."

 

Mac shared that he felt calmer than the first time Mr Chia had sat in a car with him. The counsellor’s advice had proven useful.

 

“Normally I would have used colourful words and pointed my middle finger. But today, I was taking a deep breath and trying to focus on my driving and my safety,” he said.  

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by JayyX

[Genes]

Good advice.

 

Need to think, that guy simply a bad driver. Angry also no use. Move on can le

[WangWang888]

Must tell ourselves, that reckless driver must be Mr Low

[Jamesc]

I am happy Mac and Sin take the time to let road hogs and other idiots know they are driving badly.

 

If not pointed out to them what goondu drivers they are they will never know.

 

If I am driving dangerously or inconsiderately I would like some one to let me know and I will even thank them.

 

[Jamesc]

Which idiot driver knows he is driving like an idiot if nobody horn him?

 

I hope more people horn idiots. The first time people horn him he will think he is not at fault and other people cannot drive properly.

 

But if so many people keep horning him then no matter how thick he is and a lot of hoggers are really thick it will occur to him that he might just be at fault and it cannot be that everyone else is wrong.

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by Jamesc

[WangWang888]

Which idiot driver knows he is driving like an idiot if nobody horn him?

 

I hope more people horn idiots. The first time people horn him he will think he is not at fault and other people cannot drive properly.

 

But if so many people keep horning him then no matter how thick he is and a lot of hoggers are really thick it will occur to him that he might just be at fault and it cannot be that everyone else is wrong.

 

Not really. I have seen many goodu drive slow on middle or right lane, some where hats and put on long sleeves gloves and oblivious to the surrounding... I also realised that hella horn (they call it bm horns in the old days) works better than those cheap oem horns

[1fast1]

Which idiot driver knows he is driving like an idiot if nobody horn him?

 

I hope more people horn idiots. The first time people horn him he will think he is not at fault and other people cannot drive properly.

 

But if so many people keep horning him then no matter how thick he is and a lot of hoggers are really thick it will occur to him that he might just be at fault and it cannot be that everyone else is wrong.

 

 

Yes, thinking you are right and everyone else is wrong when many people point out your mistakes is indeed idiotic.

 

But by definition, idiots are idiotic.

 

So...

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by Turboflat4

[Jamesc]

Not really. I have seen many goodu drive slow on middle or right lane, some where hats and put on long sleeves gloves and oblivious to the surrounding... I also realised that hella horn (they call it bm horns in the old days) works better than those cheap oem horns

Hella good

 

Please use more often.

 

[commonjunks]

How you tell a driver who riding a bike at 80km/h in 1st lane at AYE with P-Plate sticker and holding everyone while keep looking at his wing mirrors?

 

Why people like to hold 1st lane when they are

1- Not overtaking

2- Not going with the flow

3- Don't want to move while other approaching and are driving fast.

4- Squeeze in while one is trying to keep distance from next car, even 1 car length people still like to squeeze.

5- Driving at speed limit and presuming they are Police car or enforcer and say driving at speed limit.

 

If people start realizing these point then there will be less road rage.

[Jamesc]

We all know road hoggers are the problem.

 

But please don't tell them and them continue to think tailgaters are the problem.

 

[boonhat_91]

If you were walking on a pedestrian walkway and encounter someone slower than you blocking your way, probably you would get a bit annoyed. However, a simple "Excuse me" usually gets you on your merry way and that previous annoyance is gone in the wind. Otherwise you could just overtake them by walking on grass etc., easy peasy.

 

Unfortunately tapping the horn/flashing high beam doesn't work the same way as an "Excuse me", and you cannot so simply go around a slower driver as you would on a walkway. Therefore all these pent up annoyances in a driving journey = road rage.

 

 

[Jamesc]

If people drive badly and they kenna pucked by other people.

 

I honestly think they deserved it.

 

One driver told me he hates people horning him.

 

Instead of being annoyed and angry he would have been better off working out why people keep horning him.

 

Stupid people never learn.

 

 

If you were walking on a pedestrian walkway and encounter someone slower than you blocking your way, probably you would get a bit annoyed. However, a simple "Excuse me" usually gets you on your merry way and that previous annoyance is gone in the wind. Otherwise you could just overtake them by walking on grass etc., easy peasy.

 

Unfortunately tapping the horn/flashing high beam doesn't work the same way as an "Excuse me", and you cannot so simply go around a slower driver as you would on a walkway. Therefore all these pent up annoyances in a driving journey = road rage.

If people walk slowly and you say excuse me they give way because they scared you whack them.

 

People in cars don't give way because they think they are protected by a metal shell.

 

That why they dare not come out of their car. Just like Pussy Pink Mini driver.

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by Jamesc

[commonjunks]

We all know road hoggers are the problem.

 

But please don't tell them and them continue to think tailgaters are the problem.

 

Problem is, road hoggers don't think they are the problem.

 

The example i gave about Biker who riding at 80 on 90 road in 1st lane, biker are more vulnerable but he ignored the fact and still continue riding. Also seen multiple times, people holding the steering wheel as it is going to fly out of their car and keep looking straight without paying attention to their surrounding or mirrors to make sure they are not the one holding traffic.

 

Normally i tend to avoid sounding horn at people, as it could distress them (especially biker, as they could skid) but at times no choice have to nudge the horn (especially at traffic light while turning where light stay green for only few seconds and people start looking at their phone).

 

Just today was coming out from petrol pump to main road and main road traffic light was red, this lady in front of me decided that she don't want to go in yellow box "which is meant for vehicle to exit while red light is on for other traffic". I did horn her to move but she waited till green light and rush in front of on coming traffic, which was not only dangerous but wrong. Maybe in her head she would be thinking that i am stupid and sounding my horn at her for nothing.

 

That being said, all of us have our moments (i would be lying if i say i am saint and never feel upset on the other road user, but playing brake games, stopping in front of people and asking them for fight is just plain stupid).

[Jamesc]

Problem is, road hoggers don't think they are the problem.

 

The example i gave about Biker who riding at 80 on 90 road in 1st lane, biker are more vulnerable but he ignored the fact and still continue riding. Also seen multiple times, people holding the steering wheel as it is going to fly out of their car and keep looking straight without paying attention to their surrounding or mirrors to make sure they are not the one holding traffic.

 

Normally i tend to avoid sounding horn at people, as it could distress them (especially biker, as they could skid) but at times no choice have to nudge the horn (especially at traffic light while turning where light stay green for only few seconds and people start looking at their phone).

 

Just today was coming out from petrol pump to main road and main road traffic light was red, this lady in front of me decided that she don't want to go in yellow box "which is meant for vehicle to exit while red light is on for other traffic". I did horn her to move but she waited till green light and rush in front of on coming traffic, which was not only dangerous but wrong. Maybe in her head she would be thinking that i am stupid and sounding my horn at her for nothing.

 

That being said, all of us have our moments (i would be lying if i say i am saint and never feel upset on the other road user, but playing brake games, stopping in front of people and asking them for fight is just plain stupid).

I bet the motorcyclist doing 80 and holding everyone else up on lane 1 is a new rider.

 

I would be really surprised if you told me it was an old man riding there.

 

 

There are old riders and bold riders but there are no old bold riders.

 

Although there maybe a lot of old bald riders.

 

The helmet keeps all the heat in and cooks the scalp.

 

[commonjunks]

I bet the motorcyclist doing 80 and holding everyone else up on lane 1 is a new rider.

 

I would be really surprised if you told me it was an old man riding there.

 

 

There are old riders and bold riders but there are no old bold riders.

 

Although there maybe a lot of old bald riders.

 

The helmet keeps all the heat in and cooks the scalp.

 

hahaha, yah he had p plate on his bike (seems new to me) but again being a new rider he would have theory fresh in his head about no riding in fast lane and not hogging the first lane.

The thing which make me worry about such rider, they do see in their mirror but still decide to ignore and later rant the other people where highbeaming/horning/showing finger at them.

[DK3410]

When you've been on the road (and being alive) long enough, you realize that drivers are people, and like people, we all come in all shapes, sizes, skill and personality.

 

You have the nice ones, the okay ones, the not-so-okay ones, and the bas****s. In general following a normal distribution curve.

 

Of course, certain car brands have a reputation for attracting tossers, but we all know that's over-generalization.

 

Once you can come to terms with the fact that the idiot hogging the road in front of you is a bas**** and just leave him/ her be, you realize that it's not worth getting angry, raising your blood pressure, or worse, doing something impulsive that threatens the safety of your significant other(s) and yourself for that person's misbehavior.

 

There's more to life than increasing its speed.

Edited January 17, 2019 by DK3410

[Jamesc]

A lot of people that are hogging don't know they are hogging.

 

I don't think we should horn them to let them know and

 

I don't think we should tailgate to tell them also.

 

Maybe we can have a signal to alert them?

 

Perhaps we can keep our high beam on to let them know?

 

Make them see the light?

 

[Mahjong74]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/road-rage-singaporean-drivers-anger-management--11126586

 

On Channel NewsAsia's talking point show a couple of days ago on the topic of road rage.

 

Interesting article... Food for thought  

 

Inside road rage: What turns Singaporean drivers into monsters?

All it takes is an “idiot driver” hogging the lane to set him off.

 

 

 

Encountered lots of "idiot driver" on the road but still manage to keep my cool for 90% of them.

 

What really turn me into a monster 100% of the time is.................................

 

 

when my MIL is sitting behind and keep on nagging and talking loudly.............