Drivers Pull Over Long Enough to Ponder What’s Behind Their Road Rage
Last week I mused about having a radio talk show instead of a newspaper column -- specifically to engage readers on the subject of road rage. Freeway shootings have made Southern Californians jumpy in recent weeks, and even if authorities don’t know whether the shootings are the work of angry drivers or deliberate, murderous thugs, readers weighed in.
As they say in radio, the phone lines lit up -- if mostly by e-mail. I’d written that I don’t speed up just because someone tailgates me. That left the misleading impression that I poke along in the middle lanes of the freeway; I should have made it clear I poke along -- and never below the speed limit -- only in the slow lane or on city streets.
Speaking for lots of people, Tim wrote: “I hope you are not that bonehead who won’t move over when they are in the fast lane. If you are, please slap yourself for me.”
Tim, I hope I’ve made it clear I am not that bonehead. And thanks for listening.
Enough about me. What about generic anger behind the wheel?
Don, you’re on the air: “The answer is simply this: It’s a power and control thing, motivated by fears. It is not about being late. After all, if a busy person running late gets into their car only to find a dead battery, they don’t go shooting people.... What angers people is the belief that ‘someone else’ is making them late, usually coupled with a belief that they are either doing so intentionally and/or are so moronic that they should know if they don’t. Fear is part of the equation because control freaks are motivated by fears of losing control.”
Gus: “This actually is the first time I have ever responded to anything in the media. Anyone coming up behind you at a faster speed (except in the right lane) should have the right of way. If you have a line of drivers behind you in that lane and the closest car in front of you is three (or more) cars ahead, simply move to the next lane. That would make traffic flow a lot faster.”
Brandon, you’re up: “I notice an ever-increasing number of self-absorbed people who will sit in the fast lane and cruise like they’re on a residential street. When people are forced to go around, they’ll yell various profane instructions to try and make these uncaring drivers show some consideration and stay to the right. Their response is usually a look on their face that says, ‘What did I do?’ or even more infuriating, ‘What do I care?’ ”
Steve: “The impression I get from people who decide that 10 mph over the speed limit isn’t fast enough in the carpool lane is that they are just plain self-centered. The world revolves around them and their SUV/BMW/Benz. They are so much more important than you, so get out of the way.”
In a lengthy and entertaining reply, Alan addressed every question I raised in last week’s column. A sampling: “Would you walk down a sidewalk with your dog and hear the footsteps of a jogger behind you and simply ignore the fact that you could share the sidewalk by moving you and your dog to the side instead of forcing the jogger into the grass or street? People drive at different speeds. I don’t believe anyone died and left you the decision-maker of what the maximum speed of the passing lane should be.”
Gil in Australia got through: “We have [road rage] here in Australia. Fortunately, we aren’t all packing heat, but it can get pretty ugly. Over 20 years ago on the 55 Freeway I had a nut try to run me off the road simply because (I later found out) I was a young blond Germanic-looking chap driving a BMW. How was I to know that some old guy bearing a grudge since WWII would single me out?”
“What makes me want to drive fast?” Gabriel writes. “After some introspection I can only guess it’s the fact I am a type-A person. I drive fast because I hate wasting time. I will confess when I drive slow because I am stuck behind someone who feels their speed is fast enough for me, I get angry. I have to actively calm myself down and not tailgate or otherwise threaten the other person with my truck.”
Another reader was also reflective: “I recently found myself stressing about changes in my life. This triggers the anger which gets expressed in erratic driving behaviors. There seems to be this sense of security when I am in my car; protected as I am in a womb. You have made many poignant points, and I only want to add a Christian thought -- I am just not humble and charitable enough.”
With that, we close the mailbag and shut down the phone lines.
Readers, this ends the radio portion of our column. Thanks for calling in.
In the meantime, be careful out there.
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Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He can be reached at (714) 966-7821 or at dana.parsons@latimes.com. An archive of his recent columns is at www.latimes.com/parsons.