View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2006 > September > 14
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Passing the road rage test
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I took one of those online road-rage tests. The results showed that I was not likely to stalk someone six months after they flipped me off on GA 400.
There’s no reason to flip anyone off on GA 400 anyway. Why should you? You’re going to be driving next to them at 15 miles an hour for the next hour and a half anyway. Why make enemies?
I know that those of you who use 400 a lot have been thinking this: Wouldn’t it be cool to just shoot over to that new lane they’re building on the left going north and just hit the accelerator? As slow as the traffic is north every afternoon and evening, road-rage participants have time for three or four sessions of therapy between exits 6 and 12.
People are on the edge now, more than ever. We get calls that start out as an illegal parking or something seemingly insignificant that turn into fights, fights with weapons, sometimes resulting in serious injury and even death.
I topped out years ago when a young driver, maybe 17 or so, cut me off and then flipped me off. I went off. Luckily for both of us, his girlfriend had the presence of mind to (I remember seeing her) direct him suddenly to the exit ramp we were passing. I had three kids in my car at the time. About twenty seconds later I was completely embarrassed about my behavior and apparently, the kids had learned several new words. They promised never to repeat as long as they received a few bucks each and every week. I have never reacted in a car like that again.
I have been burnt by bad drivers many times. But ten seconds later it’s no big deal. Just try and make it through the ten seconds.
Here’s the deal. If you really want to be a courteous driver, a safe driver and play a big role in reducing road rage, you just need to get used to being screwed over in traffic day after day without losing your temper. Just relax. Play your Zamfir, Master of the Pan-Flute CD’s. Zamfir, or Zam as I like to call him.
