Road Rage is a term that, unfortunately, we have become more and more aware of as the media covers an increasing number of road rage incidents. Were all aware of the shocking stories of mild mannered commuters turned cold blooded murderers, and were fairly certain that this will never happen to us. Were rightwe will probably never turn into a cold blooded murderer simply because some jackass cut us off on the freeway. While most of us are nearly immune to such heinous fits of rage, many of us fall victim to a milder sort of road rage.
I am guilty of having committed some pretty severe road rage infractions in my day. I was punished in high school for some very uncivil things I said (or rather, yelled) at a bus driver in the school parking lot. On the DC beltway, raising my middle finger (along with my voice) became a reflex; it was almost as natural as using the turn signal. I wasnt going to go out and kill someone; but my behavior sure could have gotten me killed.
This more mild type of road rage is very prevalent, and very harmful. Besides the obvious safety hazard that it poses, it is unhealthy and un-enjoyable for the Rager and his terrified passengers. The...