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Pacifying the rage on Australian roads.
Wherever you look "Road Rage" seems to be featuring in our news. Police, psychologists, industry groups and transport authorities are constantly expressing concern about the impact of enraged drivers venting their fury.
Even the Royal Family have become victims, with reports that a furious man in a Land Rover recently chased Prince William throughout the streets of London.
National manager of Repco Authorised Service, Mr Peter Webb, shares the concern of Authorities, and believes that Road Rage is seriously undermining road safety.
"The incidence of Road Rage in Australia is placing the welfare of our clients - in fact all road users- at serious risk, and that worries us," he said.
Repco Authorised Service maintains over 1 million client vehicles through its network of independently owned workshops, and according to Mr Webb, the group recognises their role in promoting safer motoring.
"As Australia's largest service network, we can play a significant part in reducing this dangerous behaviour on our roads", he said.
Repco Authorised Service centers have recently begun offering a complimentary box of "Road Rage Pills" at each service. The pills are in fact non- medicinal confectionary, designed to create awareness of the problem in what Mr Webb describes as a "Very Australian approach to a very serious matter".
The box carries directions for use: & "If you encounter an act of road rage, take two pills and offer the offending party a friendly wave or smile".
Mr Webb points out that the intention is to sooth potentially heated situations and create a bit of fun. They are, however, not meant to diminish in any way the seriousness of the problem.
"Certainly, if our pills turn a potential confrontation into a friendly smile, then they will have served their purpose".
Tips for staying calm while driving.
1. Avoid conflict on the road
- Share the road
- Give yourself time and space to react to others
2. Keep calm, show restraint
- Understand that aggravating moves by other drivers are usually unintentional
- Don't show your frustration by making gestures- they could be the last straw for some one else
3. If someone else's driving annoys you ...
- Don't try to compete, retaliate or "educate" them
- Be patient in traffic [follow the rule "let one in and go"].
4. Say "thanks"/ say "sorry"
- Courtesy encourages co-operative, safe road use
- Apologising to the other driver when you make a mistake, reduces confrontation and defuses anger.
5. What to do in the event of violent road rage
- Try not to react
- Avoid making eye contact [confrontational]
- Don't respond by accelerating, braking or swerving suddenly
- If you think you're being followed, try to drive to a busy public place or Police Station, before you stop.
- If you're on a freeway, mingle with other vehicles- don't leave the freeway for unfamiliar roads
- Keep the and doors and boot locked
- Keep windows and sunroofs only partly open in urban areas
6. What to do in the event of physical threats
- Stay in your car with windows locked.
- If you have a mobile phone, call for help
- Use the car horn and lights to attract attention
- Never carry a defensive weapon- it could simply provoke a potential assailant
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