Imagine the following. You are jaunting along, enjoying your South African four-wheel drive adventure and suddenly, out of nowhere, an idiot comes speeding up behind you, flashing his lights, honking his horn and eventually giving you a filthy look as he (illegally and dangerously speeds past you on a blind turn. What is your reaction? Do you calmly turn to your partner and express your amazement at the other driver's inconsiderate conduct, or do get angry and give chase, hoping to overtake the idiot further along the road?



The holiday season is approaching yet again and with many families in South Africa renting motorhomes or opting for campervan hire to facilitate their road-tripping vacations. It stands to reason that the roads are going to be unbelievably busy as usual. These days? drivers have more to worry about than restless children and undependable carburettors ? now you also have to be on the look-out for drivers with road rage and, most importantly, ensure you don't fall prey to this phenomenon yourself.

We've all been witness to aggressive driving incidents. As our roads get more and more congested, drivers tend to get progressively more angry. Quite often this anger results in unsafe driving practices like speeding, flashing lights, running lights and stop signs, yelling and tailgating. Studies have shown that not only traffic congestion, but also longer commutes to and from work, as well as an overall increase in daily stressors contribute to the rise of road rage.

As road rage escalates, the psychology of driving offers some reasons for this latest social problem. People who easily succumb to the stress and pressures of everyday life are taking out their aggressions on the road. The anonymity of a safe, protected car allows drivers from all walks of life to take out their aggression on the guy travelling at 60 km/h in the fast lane. There is no formal profile of the typical road rage driver. Gender, age, race, and economic situation do not factor into the road rage equation. Once they're behind the wheel, drivers feel a certain sense of security that encourages them to act on their impulses.

Interestingly enough, in the early 90's therapists in the USA were trying to certify road rage as a medical condition. It is already specified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Mental health professionals claim that the behaviour associated with road rage could be the result of Intermittent Explosive Disorder - a behavioural disorder characterized by extreme expressions of anger, often to the point of uncontrollable rage, that are not relative to the situation at hand. The conclusion was reached based on surveys of approximately 9200 adults between 2001 and 2003 and was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. The link between the two conditions has not been sufficiently proven and many different views exist on whether road rage can be classified as a mental issue or not.

Regardless of whether road rage is a mental condition or not, the fact of the matter is that it remains a perilous reality on our roads today. Here are a few handy tips to assist you in keeping your cool on the road this holiday:

1. Don't reciprocate. Never take the other driver's behaviour personally; as they are only reacting on a road rage instinct.

2. Don't make eye contact with an angry driver.

3. Before you react to anything that you are subjected to remember to ask yourself, "Is getting back at that jerk worth my life?"

4. Remain polite and courteous, even when others are not.

5. Always ask yourself: "Could the other driver perhaps have made a mistake?"

6. If you are harassed by another driver and being followed, do not go home. Go to the nearest police station.

7. Slow down and remain calm!

8. Never underestimate the other drivers' capacity for destructive behaviour.

9. Reduce your driving stress by allowing yourself sufficient time to get where you are going. Know the roads that are under construction and listen to weather reports that may cause traffic delays. Practice patience and keep your cool.

10. Realise that you cannot control the drivers around you, but you can control the way they affect your well-being. Remain calm and drive safely.

So, there you go. Next time you are enjoying a four-wheel drive in South Africa, buckle up, be safe and be courteous to those sharing the road with you.