Road Rage
 

 

A recent CBC documentary highlighted the growing problem of road rage in which even the most unlikely people are losing their cool.

Aggressive drivers are endangering themselves and others on streets and highways which are daily becoming more congested. This aggressiveness manifests itself in speeding, tailgating, frequent lane changing, excessive cell phone talking, gesturing, yelling and horn blowing, endangering safety and security. “The sense of anonymity we feel in our cars, especially when driving in areas where no one knows our vehicle, may lower our inhibitions to behave aggressively”.

Who has not been angered by other driver, feared being late for an appointment or risked travelling under poor road conditions? If one is not firmly rooted and upright, it is easy to react rather than act, and become a pawn in a quickly-moving drama.

The automobile can be a dangerous weapon, particularly in the hands of one who is angry, overly self-confident, worried, distracted or inebriated. Epictetus, who lived in the first century A.D., provided some guidance on this 21st century phenomenon. He advised that we pity perpetrators because they have adopted unsound beliefs and are deprived of the most valuable human capacity: the ability to differentiate between what's truly good and bad for them.

It is not possible to change people but we can alter our own behaviour by gaining mastery of ourselves. The inner work of transforming the faults of fear, inattention and self-centredness to the lasting virtues of courage, concentration and generosity, whether in driving or in life, is vital in building a more harmonious world.

 

March 3, 2008

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