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Road Rage and Aggressive Driving:
Steering Clear of Highway Warfare
An elderly driver peeved that another driver honked at him hurled his prescription
bottle at the honker, then smashed his knees with his car when the man got out.
An enraged bicyclist, after being knocked off his bike by a car, pulled out a
handgun and shot the driver to death.
The expression "road rage" was introduced into the public vocabulary by the
popular media. Though there has been no agreed-upon definition, people use the phrase to
refer to an extreme state of anger that often precipitates aggressive behavior, sometimes
restricted to words and gestures, sometimes as assault and battery. A variety of factors
have been named to account for the increase in aggressiveness between drivers, such as
traffic congestion, feeling endangered, being insulted, frustration, time pressure,
fatigue, competitiveness, and lapses in attention.
An eyewitness description of New Delhi road users:
"When traveling in India a few years ago, I was blown away by the sort of highway
travel that I experienced there. While traveling by bus on the highway from Dehra Dun to
New Delhi, I quickly noticed that buses, trucks, bicycles, and all sorts of other vehicles
were barreling down a narrow piece of pavement in both directions. When the bus I was on
wanted to pass another, or if a truck approached from the other direction, the driver
would honk the horn like hell until, miraculously to me, a path cleared for the bus to
pass.
While this driving technique-the constant blasting of horns-was obnoxious and
terrifying to me, it was acceptable and standard behavior in that country, or at least on
that expanse of highway. In fact, most trucks had signs-decoratively painted on the
tailgates-stating, "Horn Please," which I took to mean something like,
"Honk with impunity to let me know you're behind me." There is no doubt that
road rage and aggressive driving are worldwide phenomena, rooted in cultural
ideology."
We personalize incidents to the point of confrontation:
"This wasn't rush hour, but there were quite a few cars on the road. Since there
were no bike lanes designated, we rode along the right-hand lane as the law states that we
are to do. All of a sudden this lady in her car right behind us starts honking. She didn't
honk just once. No--she honked three or four times. This really pissed me off. I scowled
and told my sister to just keep going. Then when we pulled off the main street to make a
turn, I glared at the woman as she passed by. She glared at me also and I really wished
that I could just yank her out of her car and slap her silly. I wanted to say to her
"Are you stupid? The law states that when there isn't a designated bike lane and
ample room on the side of the road, bicyclists are to use the right-hand lane!"
(Young woman's Driving Log)
Anger plus self righteousness is the classic recipe for road rage. However, it's
important to recognize that road rage is expressed in different ways by different drivers.
Our research over the years has yielded a number of distinct road rage personalities. They
range from aggressive moralists, to those obsessed with defeating the clock, to the
passive aggressive, and the outright murderous. The lesson to be drawn from these types is
that through our shared culture, we each may harbor some of these irrational mental
habits.1 Our research has uncovered three different types of road rage. Each type
represents particular emotional challenges.
It's not only drivers who feel free to express their anger on the roads:
"A bicyclist enraged at being knocked off his bike by a car outside Washington DC.
got up, pulled out a handgun and shot the driver to death, police said. The bicyclist
killed 19-year-old college student, with a single shot in the head. He ran off on foot but
was caught 10 minutes later."
The road rage legend suggests that it's mostly confined to men. Not so. In Ohio, a
young mother of two was jockeying for position on a highway with a pregnant woman. She
ended up slamming on her brakes on purpose to show her rage, and the pregnant woman hit a
pole and went flying. She lost the baby. The mother of two was sentenced to over a year in
prison for vehicular manslaughter of the fetus. (See the analysis of this road rage
tragedy in Chapter 5)
A bicyclist bumped a car by mistake and avoided getting into a potential road rage
incident by applying a successful de-escalating strategy
"I made a bone head mistake yesterday at a stop light, trying to squeeze between a
Jeep and the curb. Caught my pedal on the curb and fell against the Jeep, just the handle
bar end touched and I have plastic ends. So I thought no big deal. Light changed and I
went on my way. Well the driver chased me down for a little "talk." I stayed
calm told him I was sorry, that I had made a mistake and agreed that yes there was a scuff
on his door. Said I believed the scuff would buff out, said I would stay if he wanted to
call the police, and fill out an accident report. Also informed him that I had no
insurance. He calmed down said he wanted me to see what I had done. I said yes I see and I
apologize. O.K., he drove off. Close one! I felt great and experienced a rush of success
with the positive approach." (Young man)
This bicyclist made emotionally intelligent choices that neutralized a conflict, but
another bicyclist sits in jail for being oppositional and giving in to his rage
A bicyclist enraged at being knocked
off his bike by a car outside Washington D.C. got up, pulled out a
handgun and shot the driver to death, police said. The bicyclist
killed a 19-year-old woman, a college student, with a single shot in
the head. He ran off on foot but was caught 10 minutes later, a
Maryland police statement said. "It was senseless... He wasn't even
hurt. He was just mad,'' said an eyewitness….Police said the
suspect, a 26-year old man, had been charged with first degree
murder and remanded in custody. The victim's father said his
daughter had been headed for class when she was killed. "She was
such a peaceable person,''..."I just want to say, my baby is an
angel...It's unbelievable. Why, why, why?''
Middle School: Focus on Cognitive Driving Skills
Age-appropriate review of the affective skills and their extension to these cognitive
skills with sensorimotor demonstrations. Students will learn:
What principles are safest for children as passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
-
To become more aware of
habits of thinking while walking or riding.
-
To develop
objective judgment about strangers' behavior.
-
To develop
emotional intelligence as drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
-
To critically analyze driving incidents (scenario analysis) by focusing on
identifying choice-points (how to prevent or break the chain of errors that leads to
catastrophe).
-
To acknowledge the
human rights of all drivers.
-
To acknowledge
passengers' rights (their convenience, comfort, and safety).
-
To acknowledge
pedestrian rights (why they must have the right of way).
-
To acknowledge the rights of bicycle riders and how to behave near them.
-
To acknowledge the rights of
truck drivers, the need for truck deliveries, and how
to behave near them.
-
To practice
group discussions on the importance of civility in public behavior
(respecting mutual rights, inalienable rights, fairness, character, community, etc.)
-
To be able to defend the ideal of
social responsibility in public places
-
To recognize the benefits and rewards of being
supportive and positive.
-
To practice
self-witnessing activities as passengers
-
To practice
self-witnessing activities as pedestrians and other road uses
The Highway Safety Act of 1996 authorizes the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT),
through its separate agencies of the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), to fund traffic improvement programs
implemented by state and local governments, including funding safety improvements in the
areas of occupant protection, emergency medical services, police traffic services, roadway
safety, impaired driving, speed control, motorcycle safety, traffic records, and
pedestrian and bicycle safety.6
Bicycle advocacy groups want more restrictions on the movement of cars, which drivers
oppose. Controversy surrounding the issue is inevitable since the parties involved protect
contrary interests, and because it is amounts to speed control, traffic calming tends to
set opposing lines between neighborhood constituencies
- Motorists in transit vs. local residents
- Drivers vs. bicyclists · Drivers vs. pedestrians
- Bicyclists vs. pedestrians · Private vs. commercial drivers
- 4-wheel drivers vs. truckers
Authorities set speed limits according to traffic engineering studies. They find that
the best way to ascertain the appropriate speed limit for a stretch of road, is to survey
the speed of free flowing traffic, and to set the speed limit at the 85th percentile. This
is the speed exceeded by 15 percent of the vehicles.8 This practice minimizes accident
risk and maximizes motorist compliance. The NMA argues that instead of following this
approach, current speed limits are based on political considerations
(...). Mr. Pavelka, I received a copy of
Bicycling magazine containing your wonderful feature story on road rage. Thanks for
putting in DrDriving's Web address!! I've already had some responses from people who read
your story.
In case you are
interested, I have written a review of your article--my impressions and comments on your
topics, and it is available here
(this file)
I'd be glad to hear your reactions.
Leon James
Take care and drive with Aloha
spirit! **DrDriving**
Bicycling Magazine's Feature Article
May 1998 issue Reviewed by Dr. Leon James
Bicycling magazine's May 1988 issue contains a major article on Road Rage, sub-titled: The
Enemy Within by Ed Pavelka, and with awesome artwork by Cliff Nielsen. When Pavelka
interviewed me back in January, I realized that I need to keep informing myself about
driver-cyclists relations on the road. Here is how he described his assignment to me:
For an upcoming feature article I am
researching Road Rage as it impacts
bicycle riders. It
seems that more and more cyclists are experiencing aggression and hostility from
motorists. I have come across your name several times in my research, which has turned up
plenty of information about motorist vs. motorist confrontations, but really nothing about
motorist vs. cyclist confrontations.
I hope you can speak with me about how Road Rage
puts cyclists at risk. Why might a cyclist or a group of cyclists light the fuse of
susceptible drivers? What's the mindset of these drivers toward the vulnerable, easy mark
that cyclists represent? What should cyclists do (or not do) to protect themselves against
aggressive incidents that could escalate into something worse? From your understanding of
Road Rage, is it becoming riskier to be out there on a bike?
Your thoughts on these issues are very important to this article.
As these sample comments indicate, there
has developed a political division between drivers and cyclists sharing the same road.
Each group identifies with itself and sees the other as the enemy. Ed Pavelka's take in
the road rage article is that "the enemy is within," as he put it on the cover:
"When road rage strikes you (p.76)" so we need to focus on both issues:
(1)
aggressiveness and hostility between drivers and cyclists
(2) aggressiveness and hostility within drivers and within cyclists
The first issue is highly political and needs to be understood in terms of civic
activism and and social confrontation between user groups. The second issue is
psychological and spiritual.
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Ed Pavelka's article starts with this side
bar comment:
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"They hate you. You hate them. What drives ordinary people to mindless violence?
The debate over who rules the road."
"Motorized miscreants"--Pavelka's list:
- aggressive tactics
- speeding
- tailgating
- flashing headlights
- weaving through traffic
- passing on the right
- running stop signs
- running lights
- shouting threats
- flipping the bird
- laying on your horns
- cutting off 'the enemy'
- perceiving others as getting in the way
- keeping up a confrontational attitude
- wild swervers threatening cyclists
- revving engines
- shouting insultingly
- gesturing menacingly
- throwing beer cans or other objects
I love Pavelka's
list above! Not the drivers behaving badly, but the
descriptive and accurate list of their social crimes. It is a
list of traits belonging to every driver's repertoire or inventory of driving habits. In
many years of studying driver behavior, I have yet to find a driver who never experiences
aggressiveness or hostility towards other road users such as cyclists, pedestrians, other
drivers, or officials and regulations. Anger is no doubt the most common form of emotion
we use to settle accounts with each other in our daily exchanges. The mini-relationships
we experience with thousands of other road users every year, only last a few seconds or
so, yet they are very significant, very important, influencing your fate, your future,
your self-respect, your pocketbook, and your morality.
My wife Diane, known affectionately in the family as "Dr. Driving's doctor,"
and who rides with me every day, frequently has to tell me, "Fix your face,
Leon" or "Wave to that man who let you in. Wave now. Go ahead, wave, Leon."
What a simple, civilized request--yet Leon feels the resistance within him. "It's too
late now" he says lamely, annoyed at her enthusiasm for this stranger who hardly took
notice of him (he thought to himself), or who would block the left lane so he would have
to get around him. Annoyance. That's the mood he was in. Finally he waves, convinced the
other is no longer involved. Suddenly, Diane speaks out triumphantly, "See, he waved
back." Leon feels ashamed of his resistance. Against his own inclination, he feels an
inner glow of happiness. He is surprised. Where did that come from? He is pleased. Now he
tells himself that he's going to continue his efforts to reform his driving personality.
Good: his Dr. Driving is back, and in command.
What are "a cyclist's visceral reaction" to a being sideswiped by a driver?
Pavelka's list:
- fear
- anger
- frustration
- the urge to fight back
Pavelka quotes me as saying that "Driving and habitual road rage have become
virtually inseparable" (p.78) and backs me up with what Time magazine describes as
"the most comprehensive national survey on driving behavior so far." This survey
was done by EPIC_MRA, a Michigan based firm. Their data indicate that non-fatal road rage
incidents have increased 51% in this decade and 80% of motorists report they are angry
"most or all of the time" (figure summaries cited by Pavelka, p.78).
Pavelka further quotes me on the "negative psychology between drivers and
cyclists." Certainly the evidence is there, as indicated by the postings I quote
above. "Bad attitude turns into bad behavior", says Pavelka (p. 80). His theory
is that stressed out people at work and home get into their anonymous cockpits, and vent
their anger and insecurity against hapless strangers. Other causes, according to Pavelka:
- people think they own the road
- roads are congested
- drivers are in a rush all the time
- crazed drivers are willing to use the car as a weapon
- cyclists are easy targets
- attitude of drivers that cyclists don't belong on public roads
- false belief that cyclists are illegal nuisances
Pavelka quotes me on what to do when you get into one of these hostile exchanges--by
mistake--and you realize your mistake and you just want to back out of it. Writes Pavelka
(p.123):
"Apologizing is unfair when you didn't do anything wrong" says Dr. James.
"But right and wrong is no longer applicable to the situation. There is an emergency
going on. And during an emergency you must go by the priority of what can cause the
greatest disaster."
O.K., I don't remember saying that, but I don't deny it. It sounds accurate to me now.
Pavelka backs up my words with those of Dr. Nerenberg, a California road rage therapist
who has been in the media this past year, usually alongside with me: "Indeed an
apology is what 65% of road ragers say they want." I saw Dr. Nerenberg on
Leeza the
other day, and at one point he flashed a sign that said "Sorry." I asked my
students in traffic psychology what they would do if a driver flashed the Sorry sign when
they're mad at that driver. "It would make me more mad" was a common answer!!
Well, perhaps it depends on what the signs say....
Now here is, in my opinion, Pavelka's deepest insight:
"Let's be honest--we can't divvy up the world neatly into motorists and cyclists.
Most cyclists spend a lot of time behind the wheel of a car. Dispassionately examine your
riding styles, and if you find yourself constantly itching to strike back in traffic, get
some professional help."
OK, hold on just a minute Mr. Pavelka! Since all 177 million drivers are at risk in
terms of falling for aggressiveness sometimes, and most of them pretty frequently, it
would be hopeless if we all had to get professional help!! Millions of drivers and
cyclists and pedestrians--millions every day--find themselves "constantly itching to
strike back in traffic." And if not "constantly" then frequently. So we
need a plan that is available now to all these millions who want to change
themselves--that's when Dr. Driving comes into the picture, especially, the
inner power tools you use on yourself:
self-witnessing exercises and
self-modification efforts.
I thank Mr. Pavelka for his generous article. His ending sentence is something we all
need to take to heart:
"The onus of good citizenship rests squarely on the shoulders of anyone who uses
the road--be it on two wheels or four."
(Or 8 and 16...not to forget the
truckers perspective...)
Cliff Nielsen attempted to capture the essence of road rage as the enemy within. His
full page painting, or creation, depicts a fiendish face surrounded by a dark halo with
the words "steel belted radial." The background of the picture is the body made
of hellish scenes with fiery smoke and dark monsters lurking about, a kind of spiritual
geography of many infernal societies or cities, all coalescing together into the shape of
this road warrior daemon. The foreground was the greenish cruel face, whose forehead was
open, laying bare the contents of the brain: a gun. Also in the foreground, the heart,
depicted as a red bloody mountain spewing out fiery bellows and smoke.
So there you have it folks! The driver's
Road Warrior within is not a pretty sight.
Fortunately, we also possess a Dr. Driving who is well equipped with inner power tools
to drive the daemon out, to bottle the genie of aggressiveness, to smash the hidden traps
of retaliation, vengeance, and cynicism.
Dr. Leon James is
again
Interviewed
for Bicycling Magazine by Doug
Donaldson in 2000.
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Dr. James -- I am a writer for BICYCLING Magazine at
Rodale Press in Pennsylvania. BICYCLING s the world's largest cycling publication with
about 1.8 million readers each month.
For an
upcoming feature article I am research Road Rage as it impacts bicycle riders. It seems
that more and more cyclists are experiencing aggression and hostility from motorists. I
have come across your name several times in my research, which has turned up plenty of
information about motorist vs. motorist confrontations, but really nothing about motorist
vs. cyclist confrontations.
I hope you can speak with me about how Road Rage puts
cyclists at risk. Why might a cyclist or a group of cyclists light the fuse of susceptible
drivers? What's the mindset of these drivers toward the vulnerable, easy mark that
cyclists represent? What should cyclists do (or not do) to protect themselves against
aggressive incidents that could escalate into something worse? From your understanding of
Road Rage, is it becoming riskier to be out there on a bike?
Your thoughts on these issues are very important to this
article. I'm on deadline (of course) so if you could call me at your convenience today or
Friday I would record your comments and advice.
Here's a reader of that article who wrote to me this note:
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 21:15:43 -1000
To: dyc@DrDriving.org
Subject: Comments on your site
Hello!
I read about your site in the May 1998 issue of Bicycling magazine and am impressed
with its content. I am a 33 year old bicycle rider and driver from Massachusetts. I work
at home and don't have to drive very often. For this I am thankful.
I, like at least one other respondent, find many drivers to be without manners.
Rudeness and selfishness rule the road. Over my eighteen years behind the wheel I believe
both have increased alarmingly.
One factor which I believe causes road rage and confrontations in general, is basic
street design and layout of intersections. I live and grew up in Massachusetts but lived
in the state of Washington for 5 years during my years in college. The street layouts for
the 2 states are quite different in design.
In WA, the majority of streets meet at intersections at 90 degrees. Most busy
stoplights have a seperate lane and light cycle for left turns. Many of these
intersections have multiple lanes, clearly marked by signs near the signals, which
indicate left, straight or right. There are many 4 way stops, especially through
residential neighborhoods.
This is not the case in MA. Many intersections in MA meet at angles which bring blind
spots of various car models into play, and you rarely find a
separate lane and/or light
cycle for left turners. There are a high number of intersections where it is difficult to
tell which street across the intersection is a continuation of the one you were on or if
you are actually making a turn. There are fewer 4 way stops and multi lane intersections.
Turning lanes are not clearly marked.
I n my experience I found MA drivers to be much more rude and aggressive than the
drivers of WA. One example I have seen increasing over the last few years in MA is left
turners not yielding the right of way. This behavior is nearly universal in MA. At most
intersections which have a signal, but no left turn light cycle, the first (and often
second and third) driver will try to beat the oncoming traffic as soon as the light turns
green. I cannot see how anyone could think they have the right of way in this situation,
but this is becoming the norm.
There are obviously other factors which differ between the states. There is a higher
population per square mile in MA and the "East Coast" rat race effect on stress
is quite evident. These obviously contribute to aggression as well, but I feel the road
design in MA causes more confrontation and confusion then that of WA.
I mention this factor most in discussions about aggressive driving mainly because I
feel this is the least noticed. Two other areas I feel need improvement are education and
enforcement. Its too easy to get a license and the police need to enforce other
traffic
laws besides speeding, but both of those are discussions for another day.
Thank you for taking the time to read my lengthy post, and again, I complement you on
your site and your efforts.
A similar issue was raised by an earlier correspondent:
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 10:01:29 -1000
To: dyc@DrDriving.org
Subject: Driving Story
Hello Dr. Driving!
My story is bicycle related. I live in Madison, WI. So do about 100,000 bikers. I was
headed to work, on a one way street, during a SNOWSTORM. I was cut off by someone who blew
off a stop sign. That's right, someone was riding a BICYCLE IN THE SNOWSTORM. I beeped to
let them know that I was having trouble stopping in time, sure that I was going to hit
them. They flipped ME off, cut off the driver in the next lane, who came within 2 INCHES
of hitting ME (always better to hit a car than a bike, right?). The other driver also
beeped, and got the same treatment I did. The biker then scooted down a different street.
Scariest part was HE WAS NOT WEARING A HELMET!
I have come to the conclusion that the major problem with traffic (re: Pedestrians,
drivers, bikers) is that no one HAS ANY MANNERS ANYMORE. Also, I am taking on a life time
project - I want bikes accountable for their actions since, especially here in Madtown,
bikes are being used more and more for daily commuting (they are VEHICLES, TOO). I WANT
THEM PLATED. They come zooming up from behind ON THE SIDEWALK and don't bother to say
"on your left", though that is partly irrelevant as it is ILLEGAL TO RIDE A BIKE
IN A BUSINESS AREA: DOWNTOWN MADISON. The way I see it is that I would rather be pissed at
a stupid car driver. At least if they screw up and there is an accident, you hit car
first, not stupid biker.
Thanks for letting me vent. Keep up the good work!
Roaming around in electronic discussion groups gave me some idea of the magnitude of
the problem and its seriousness. Here's a selection that I found on Dr. Driving's site.
Read these over, following which you'll find my discussion of the road rage article in
Bicycling magazine.
Did you know
that...
more than 46,000 pedalcyclists have died in traffic crashes in the United States since
1932 the first year in which estimates of pedalcyclist fatalities were recorded.
Bicycle Advocacy
|| Cycling
Resources
See more government
statistics below.
Research Paper on
Motorcyclists and Aggressiveness
By Shojiro Niwa
Abstract
This paper presents a survey of 52 motorcyclists, who were asked complete the flow
questionnaire, the Driving Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) (Lawton et al, 1997), and
the Aggression Questionnaire (Buss and Perry, 1992). The results show that motorcycling
can be seen as a flow experience, which might be inspired by speeding. Factor
analysis revealed three factors; speeding and dangerous driving, interpersonally
aggressive violations and highway code violations. There are numerous relationship between
a driving behaviour of motorcyclists, the number of active accident and their personality
characteristic, aggression. Younger riders were more aggressive than older riders, which
contributes to more dangerous driving relative to aggressive violations on the road.
continued
here
The US Department of Transportation has awarded the TEA-21
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Grant (Section 1212 (o)) to
the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center
(HSRC). The Chapel Hill-based HSRC has established a team
of subcontractors and consultants, including the Association
of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, to work cooperatively
with the various agencies of the USDOT, bicycle and pedestrian
coordinators, the advocacy community and others to provide
a broad range of technical assistance resources (publications,
fact sheets, training courses web site etc.), and a clearinghouse.
The contract started on June 1 and products (e.g. a toll-free
phone number, web site etc.) are expected to be announced
at the annual meeting of State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinators,
September 15-16 in Madison, Wisconsin.
original
NHTSA newsletter here
DrDriving.
My story is bicycle related. I live in
Madison, WI. So do about 100,000 bikers. I was headed to work, on a one way street, during
a SNOWSTORM. I was cut off by someone who blew off a stop sign. That's right, someone was
riding a BICYCLE IN THE SNOWSTORM. I beeped to let them know that I was having trouble
stopping in time, sure that I was going to hit them. They flipped ME off, cut off the
driver in the next lane, who came within 2 INCHES of hitting ME (always better to hit a
car than a bike, right?). The other driver also beeped, and got the same treatment I did.
The biker then scooted down a different street. Scariest part was HE WAS NOT WEARING A
HELMET!
I have come to the conclusion that the major problem with traffic (re:
Pedestrians, drivers, bikers) is that no one HAS ANY MANNERS ANYMORE.
Also, I am taking on
a life time project - I want bikes accountable for their actions since, especially here in Madtown, bikes are being used more and more for daily commuting (they are VEHICLES, TOO).
I WANT THEM PLATED. They come zooming up from behind ON THE SIDEWALK and don't bother to
say "on your left", though that is partly irrelevant as it is ILLEGAL TO RIDE A
BIKE IN A BUSINESS AREA: DOWNTOWN MADISON.
The way I see it is that I would rather be
pissed at a stupid car driver. At least if they screw up and there is an accident, you hit
car first, not stupid biker.
Thanks for letting me vent. Keep up the good work!
|
|
those of you that are throwing pebbles, marbles and other stuff back at drivers are making
a big mistake, IMHO. They may not catch up to you, but their rage toward motorcyclists in
general may cause some innocent person to be hurt or killed at some future date. Just
ignore them and hopefully they will go away. When I am riding my motorcycle I like to
think of myself as an ambassador for motorcycling in general. And that's one reason why I
do not plan to replace my stock muffler with an after-market muffler.
found it here
|

My Journey Back to LifeLance Armstrong
From Booklist
It is such an all-American story. A lanky kid from Plano, Texas, is raised by a feisty,
single parent who sacrifices for her son, who becomes one of our country's greatest
athletes. Given that background, it is understandable why Armstrong was able to channel
his boundless energy toward athletic endeavors. By his senior year in high school, he was
already a professional triathlete and was training with the U.S. Olympic cycling
developmental team. In 1993, Armstrong secured a position in the... read more
Order from
Amazon.com |
The Race of His Life by Kristin Armstrong, Ken Call (Illustrator)
A truly inspirational story of Lance Armstrong, the 1999 and 2000 Tour de France
champion from Austin, Texas who overcame cancer to become the number one cyclist in the
world! The book follows his athletic career from childhood success at triathlons to the
Tour de France.
Order from
Amazon.com |
Build the Strength, Skills, and Confidence to Ride As Far As You Want
by Ed Burke, Ed
Pavelka, Edmund R., Ph.D. Burke
A renowned expert on bicycling training joins a celebrated cycling writer to create the
first book devoted to long-distance cycling The century, or 100 mile bike race, is the
most popular distance even with thousands of these races occurring in the country each
year. And to date, nothing this extensive or practical has ever been published on cycling
events from 30 to 3,000 miles. It includes the latest in cycling technology, bikes,
clothing, accessories, components and shoes on the market for long-distance cycling.
Order from
Amazon.com |
Road Rage in Japan
Ananova
Driver admits killing of window-tapping cyclist
Police in Japan have arrested a delivery driver who they say has admitted to knocking down
and killing a cyclist because he kept tapping on his window.
Makoto Tsujianai, a university professor in Tokyo, is believed to have been cycling to
work in heavy traffic when he was mown down.
The suspect told police that each time he stopped his car, the academic rode by and tapped
on his window before cycling off again.
He told officers that he eventually lost his temper with Mr Tsujianai and had no option
but to hurt him, reports the Mainichi Daily News.
original here
|
|
By Shojiro Niwa
shojironiwa@excite.co.uk
Abstract
This paper presents a survey of 52
motorcyclists, who were asked complete the flow questionnaire, the Driving Behaviour
Questionnaire (DBQ) (Lawton et al, 1997), and the Aggression Questionnaire (Buss and
Perry, 1992). The results show that motorcycling can be seen as a flow
experience, which might be inspired by speeding. Factor analysis revealed three factors;
speeding and dangerous driving, interpersonally aggressive violations and highway code
violations. There are numerous relationship between a driving behaviour of motorcyclists,
the number of active accident and their personality characteristic, aggression. Younger
riders were more aggressive than older riders, which contributes to more dangerous driving
relative to aggressive violations on the road.
Flow experience
Table 1 shows that percentage of respondents who either agreed or strongly agreed for
each items (see appendices) that motorcycling had. In terms of the balance between skill
and challenge, motorcyclists preferred an equal relationship between skill and demand
(81%), followed by a relationship between higher demand and lower skill (51%).
A relationship between lower demand and higher skill (46%) is the least preference.
Discussion
The results of the present study have shown that motorcycling can be explained as
pleasure as 96% of the subjects stated. The study tried to find out motorcycling as a
flow experience in terms of 8 dimensions. The most important characteristics
of flow experience (the equal relationship between skill and demand, and
intrinsically rewarding experience) were confirmed by over 80% of the subjects. For the
most characteristics in various conditions, over 50% of the motorcyclists confirmed the
statement of flow experience, however, one of the unique characteristics for
flow experience, lack of self-consciousness, could not be confirmed. This
might be an indication that motorcyclists need to keep self-consciousness to enjoy
motorcycling. 64% of the subjects answered that they pursued speed in
motorcycling. This factor should be taken into account for additional dimension of
flow experience in motorcycling. If speed factor were not
important, majority of the subjects (80%) would not have racer or sport type motorcycles.
The results of the Driving Behaviour Questionnaire have revealed that, as expected,
speeding on the motorway or country road is the most common violation among motorcyclists.
In addition, 64% of the motorcyclists stated that they pursued speed as fast
as they could go. Five of the top six violations were categorised as speeding and
aggressive driving behaviour.
References
- Chesham, D.J., Rutter, D.R., and Quine, L. (1993). Motorcycling safety research-A review
of the social and behavioural literature. Social science & Medicine, 37, 3, 419-429.
- Clarke, J.A., and Langley, J.D. (1995). Disablement resulting from motorcycle crashes.
Disability and Rehabilitation, 17, 7, 377-385.
- Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1975). Beyond Boredom and Anxiety. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
- Colburn, N., Meyer, R.D., Wrigley, M., and Bradley, E.L. (1993). Should motorcycles be
operated within the legal alcohol limit as automobiles? Journal of trauma-injury infection
and critical care, 35, 2, 183-186.
- Jackson, C., and Wilson, G.D. (1993). Notes and shorter communication: Mad, bad or sad?
The personality of bikers. Personality and Individual difference, 14, 1, 243- 245.
- Mannering, F.L., and Grodsky, L.L. (1995). Statistical analysis of motorcyclists
perceived accident risk. Accident analysis and prevention, 27, 1, 21-31.
- Preusser, D.F., Williams, A.F., and Ulmer, R.G. (1995). Analysis of fatal motorcycle
crashes: Crashing typing. Accident analysis and prevention, 27, 6, 845-851.
- Robertson, S.A., and Minter, A. (1996). A study of some anthropometric characteristics
of motorcycle riders. Applied Ergonomics, 27, 4, 223-229.
- Rothe, J., and Cooper, P. (1987). Motorcyclists: Image and reality. Vancouver: Insurance
Corporation of British Columbia.
Flow Questionnaire
The following statements concern your ways of acting in different situations. Please
express your agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
1 - Strongly disagree 2 - disagree 3 - Neither agree or disagree 4 - Agree 5 - Strongly
agree
1. I feel enjoyment when I ride on the motor in a traffic jam.
1 2 3 4 5
2. I feel enjoyment when I ride on the motor on the road, where the demands are above
my skills.
1 2 3 4 5
see entire paper here
|
|
Pedalcyclists
The first automobile crash in the United States occurred in New York City in 1896, when
a motor vehicle collided with a pedalcycle rider (Famous First Facts, by Joseph Kane).
More than 46,000 pedalcyclists have died in traffic crashes in the United States since
1932 the first year in which estimates of pedalcyclist fatalities were recorded.
zzz
The 350 pedalcyclists killed in 1932 accounted for 1.3 percent of the 27,979 persons
who died in traffic crashes that year. In 1999, 750 pedalcyclists were killed and an
additional 51,000 were injured in traffic crashes.
Pedalcyclist deaths accounted for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities, and
pedalcyclists made up 2 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the
year.
The number of pedalcyclist fatalities in 1999 was 10 percent lower than the 832
fatalities reported in 1989. The highest number of pedalcyclist fatalities ever recorded
in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) was 1,003 in 1975.
In 1989, the average age of pedalcyclists killed in traffic crashes was 24.4 years; in
1999 the average age of those killed was 32.4 years, and the average age of those injured
was 23.5 years.
Pedalcyclists accounted for 13 percent of all nonmotorist traffic fatalities in 1999.
Pedestrians accounted for 85 percent, and the remaining 3 percent were skateboard riders,
roller skaters, etc. The 750 pedalcyclist deaths in 1999 accounted for 2 percent of
all traffic fatalities during the year.
Figure 1. Trends in Pedalcyclist and Total Traffic Fatalities, 1989-1999
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motorcyclists
In 1999, 2,472 motorcyclists were killed and an additional 50,000 were injured in
traffic crashes in the United States 8 percent more than the 2,294 motorcyclist
fatalities and 2 percent more than the 49,000 motorcyclist injuries reported in 1998.
More than 100,000 motorcyclists have died in traffic crashes since the enactment of the
Highway Safety and National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966.
Table 1. Motorcyclist Fatalities and Injuries and Fatality and Injury Rates, 1989-1999
|
Subject: A Topic for Psychology
Hello DrDriving:
For the last few years I have been fascinated with what has now been coined "road
rage." I am a bicyclists and without knowing am probably the focus of many a rageful
driver. I am very interested in the personality differences acquired when a person goes
inside of a car. They change, they aren't as responsible for their actions. I begin to
wonder if it isn't something to be investigated by both phsychologists and sociologists.
Please keep me informed of any new information on this topic. I work for a university
press.
Sincerely, Julia
|
Pennsylvania Man Kills Dirt Biker Over Noise
Mike Bucsko
The Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette reports that John Bereznak of Beaverdale, Pennsylvania on Saturday shot and
killed a young dirt biker who was biking on the mounds of coal from an abandoned strip
mine about 200 yards from Bereznak's house. Bereznak had complained about noise from the
dirt bikers for several years, and once had thrown a shovel at a dirt biker while ranting
about noise. He also was suspected by the town's dirt bikers of installing tar paper
seeded with nails around the abandoned mine area. Bereznak later killed himself.
The article reports that the shooting occurred at the old No. 4 Logan Co. Mine, which
has been abandoned for about 40 years and is now owned by Cooney Brothers Inc. The company
owns thousands of acres of mines in the area. For about five years, the article says, dirt
bikers have used the irregular mounds of coal at the mine for dirt bike tracks and jumps.
According to the article, Bereznak was a 70-year-old retired miner. On Saturday shortly
after 4 p.m., Bereznak took his .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol from his Jefferson
Avenue home to confront the dirt bikers. There were seven teen-agers at the abandoned
mine, the article says, six of whom later told police that Bereznak watched the bikers
silently for a few minutes before walking towards them. Robert Custer, age 17, was sitting
on his dirt bike about to ride up a mound of coal the teens call "KTM" after the
make of the first dirt bike that made it to the top, the article reports. Bereznak stopped
about eight feet from Custer, pulled out his gun from behind his shirt, and fired at
Custer's chest. After the teen fell, Bereznak fired two more shots at the biker. He then
returned to his home and shot himself.
The article reports that people in this village of 1,000 residents still were numb
yesterday from the violence of the previous day. Custer's family and two teens who
witnessed the shooting would not comment, the article says.
According to Paul Bonfanti, police chief in Summerhill, which includes Beaverdale,
"I guess he [Bereznak] just flipped." Bonfanti said that Bereznak and a few
other residents who lived near the mine had complained occasionally about the noise from
the bikes. A few years ago, after receiving several complaints, a police officer cited a
dirt biker for disorderly conduct, but the citation was tossed out by a district justice
when the residents who had complained refused to testify. Subsequently, the teen's parents
sued the township and won. Since then there haven't been any more citations issued,
Bonfanti said, and police tend to ignore the dirt bikers.
original
here
|
PAVEMENT RAGEA rage for every taste
You can forget road rage. Road rage is for amateurs. When people swerve in front of me
at roundabouts or race away at traffic lights, I merely give an aloof but withering
glance, which they never see because their eyes are peering towards that distant horizon
which they plan to reach at least three seconds before I do. Anyone who is prepared to
risk their life, or even their wing mirror, to achieve that goal deserves our pity rather
than our rage.
But I do suffer from other kinds of rage. I get a serious attack of pavement rage
whenever I encounter a cyclist, helmet thrust forward, charging down the pavement at
ramming speed, scattering schoolchil-dren and little old ladies. Cyclists are always
telling us how non-polluting and healthful is their chosen mode of transport. So why do
they willingly risk maiming the rest of us?
Pavement rage also occurs when I'm walking the children to school along a road where
the traffic moves very slowly. Some people, usually young men, like to wind down the
window, crank up the music and send heavy metal reverberating at a volume which would make
even Liam Gallagher murmur: "I say, old man, steady on!" In my ideal fantasy
world, I'd approach the offending car, reach inside my jacket and pull out a magnet so
powerful that the music on the tape would be permanently erased.
Even the most humdrum activities can increase the potential for rage. I was waiting to
buy a railway ticket in the traditional queue of around 20 people, idly wondering whether
they would all be served before my train left, and why 50 per cent of customers ask,
"Can you tell me what platform it is?" so the clerk has to look it up, even
though the electric destination indicators above the concourse list everything they could
possibly need to know. Suddenly a woman with a bossy upper-class voice swept past us all,
announcing, "Do you mind? I have a train to catch!"
(...)
There are an awful lot of thoughtless people about. On a train I once boldly asked some
young neanderthal to take his muddy boots off the seat in front. He didn't demur, but gave
me a long and mystified look. For what purpose, you could almost see him wonder, would the
railway company have put a padded bench there except as a footrest?
Smokers can be another source of rage. Before I quit smoking, I promised myself I'd
never become an anti-smoking bore. If anyone wants to light up in our house, we don't
complainwe bring them matches, ashtrays, roller machines...But that doesn't mean I'm
happy sharing my anniversary dinner in a fancy restaurant with people who think it's fine
to puff away and let the smoke drift over the food which the chef has spent hours cooking
(and I'll have to spend hours working to pay for).
(...)
Yes, the reasons for rage are everywhere. You just have to know where to look.
original here
|
Date: 10 Sep 1997 15:53:57 -0700
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive, misc.transport.urban-transit, rec.bicycles.soc,
alt.activism, ba.transportation, ba.bicycles
Subject: ACTION: "Free The Bay Bridge Six" Flyer
Followup-To:
misc.transport.urban-transit,rec.bicycles.soc,ba.transportation,ba.bicycles
Free The Bay Bridge Six!
EMERGENCY ACTION
CYCLISTS ARRESTED ON THE BAY BRIDGE
REPOST TO ALL LISTS
6 cyclists were arrested at 10AM this morning on the Bay Bridge. What would normally be a
citation for a misdemeanor traffic infraction has now been trumped up to FELONY CONSPIRACY
CHARGES for blocking traffic. They were actually moving for the entire ride across the
bridge. Bail for all 6 cyclists is many thousands of dollars.
Cyclists are being singled out and persecuted for their political beliefs for what are
in actuality legal actions, or minor vehicle code violations.
Please help these cyclists now. We need every phone call, fax, and email possible as
soon as you can help.
1. Call the following and complain about the illegal arrest of the cyclists, the bogus
charges against them, and the harassment of ALL cyclists in San Francisco following July
25th's Critical Mass ride.
CALL NOW!!! (numbers given here)
Thanks for your help.
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 00:17:34 GMT
Newsgroups: misc.transport.urban-transit, rec.bicycles.soc, ba.transportation, ba.bicycles
Subject: Re: ACTION: "Free The Bay Bridge Six" Flyer
Free The Bay Bridge Six!
(snip)
How is riding a bike on the freeway, which is illegal according to the California Vehicle
Code, a "legal action"?
When it comes right down to it, these 6 cyclists broke the law, and by doing it en
masse, they conspired to break the law (maybe not to block traffic, but they were
practicing civil disobedience, which is by definition against the law).
Please help these cyclists now. We need every phone call, fax,
and email possible as soon as you can help.
1. Call the following and complain about the illegal arrest of
the cyclists, the bogus charges against them, and the harassment
of ALL cyclists in San Francisco following July 25th's Critical
Mass ride.
I haven't been harrassed since the July Critical Mass. Yes, we should support the cyclists
who were arrested ... but, their arrest isn't illegal, the charges are not completely
bogus, and harassment is not as widespread as you would make it seem.
2. Support your fellow cyclists by meeting at 6:00 PM, Justin
Herman Plaza, San Francisco, for a legal, law abiding ride to
the Hall of (In) Justice, 850 Bryant Street, San Francisco
TONIGHT 9/10/97 in support of the Bay Bridge cyclists who have
been unfairly charged, and to protest the harassment of cyclists
by the CHP and the San Francisco Police Department. Call your
friends and encourage them to come.
Oh please ... if anything, this needs to go to and be fought out in court. Trying to
get the charges dropped won't change anything. Turning it into a court case, that can be
appealed and appealed and appealed is the way to get change.
The riders who conspired to cross the bridge shouldn't have done so unless they were
willing to face any charges that might be brought against them. You've got to be willing
to do jail time if you're going to commit an act of civil disobedience. Henry David
Thoreau knew this. Mohatma Gandhi knew this. Martin Luther King, Jr. knew this. Nelson
Mandela knew this. Rosa Parks knew this.
Of course we need access to the Bay Bridge, and hopefully this case will bring enough
attention to the cause so that our needs are addressed in the
redesigned/retrofitted/rebuilt Bay Bridge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 19:30:31 GMT
Newsgroups: misc.transport.urban-transit, rec.bicycles.soc, ba.transportation, ba.bicycles
Subject: Re: ACTION: "Free The Bay Bridge Six" Flyer
I haven't been harrassed since the July Critical Mass. Yes, we should
support the cyclists who were arrested ... but, their arrest isn't illegal,
the charges are not completely bogus, and harassment is not as widespread
as you would make it seem.
If the cyclists were going at the same speed as, or faster than,
automobile traffic on the bridge, then they cannot possibly be
"blocking traffic".
Actually, IMO, if they were travelling (on a road where bicycles were otherwise allowed)
at a speed slower than that of the rest of traffic, and if there is more than one lane in
the direction of travel, then they are not blocking traffic, but are traffic.
(IANAL)
The problem here is, that they are NOT considered traffic because under the law, they
are not permitted there in the first place.
Cyclists should be *encouraged* to use the Bay Bridge, until such time as the BART
strike is over.
And that IS legally possible... but not without the proper legal actions occuring
first. A quick grep of an old copy of the CVC brings up one section bearing relevance. I
do believe there are further sections of relevance in the Streets and Highways code.
[CVC citation]
=23330. Except where a special permit has been obtained from the
=Department of Transportation under the provisions of Article 6
=(commencing with Section 35780) of Chapter 5 of Division 15, none of
=the following shall be permitted on any vehicular crossing:
= (a) Animals while being led or driven, even though tethered or
=harnessed.
= (b) Bicycles or motorized bicycles, unless the department by signs
=indicates that either bicycles or motorized bicycles, or both, are
=permitted upon all or any portion of the vehicular crossing.
= (c) Vehicles having a total width of vehicle or load exceeding 102
=inches.
= (d) Vehicles carrying items prohibited by regulations promulgated
=by the Department of Transportation.
The relevant portion being:
(b) Bicycles or motorized bicycles, unless the department by signs indicates that
either bicycles or motorized bicycles, or both, are permitted upon all or any portion of
the vehicular crossing.
(Unless one wants to try for an individual permit mentioned in the main part of this
section, and detailed in section 35780.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 13:32:04 -0700
Newsgroups: misc.transport.urban-transit, rec.bicycles.soc, ba.transportation, ba.bicycles
Subject: Re: ACTION: "Free The Bay Bridge Six" Flyer
Cyclists should be *encouraged* to use the Bay Bridge, until such time as the BART
strike is over.
Cyclists should stay off the freeway -- pedestrians should stay off the freeway. This
is dangerous, however fast it's going. Do the cyclists really think biking on the freeway
nonsense is getting them any sympathy? It's just irresponsible.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 12 Sep 1997 05:15:05 GMT
Newsgroups: misc.transport.urban-transit, rec.bicycles.soc, ba.transportation, ba.bicycles
Subject: Re: ACTION: "Free The Bay Bridge Six" Flyer
CVC 21960 states that bicyclists can only be prohibited from a freeway, or portion
thereof, by order, ordinance, or resolution for that particular freeway. For the
prohibition to be effective there must appropriate signs on the freeway and the approaches
thereto.
Bicyclists are allowed on all freeways in California except where appropriate signs
prohibit them.
The fact that the highway department in California has a policy to prohibit bicyclists
from all freeways unless there is no alternate route is another matter. It certainly has
NO basis in law or safety considerations.
CVC 23330 prohibits bicyclists from vehicular crossings unless they are signed to
permit bicycling.
Perhaps you sould be more careful in your research next time.
A worse problem is law enforcement
personnel who don't know the law and refuse to learn
it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 1997/07/25
Newsgroups:
talk.politics.misc,alt.politics.democrats.d,alt.fan.dan-quayle,
alt.society.liberalism,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.politics.usa.republican,
alt.politics.economics,alt.rush-limbaugh,alt.politics.usa.newt-gingrich,
alt.politics.usa.congress,alt.politics.libertarian,talk.politics.libertarian,
rec.autos.misc,ba.bicycle,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.rides,
alt.fan.ronald-reagan,aus.bicycle,alt.pave.the.earth
Today in the Chicago Tribune, I saw a newspaper article about a planned bicycle ride in
downtown San Francisco organised by "Critical Mass", a group of bicyclists who
deliberately snarl traffic.
What these people do is they ride bicycles en masse during rush hour and the goal is
"create frustration for motorists and give them a taste of what cyclists say they
expierence every day".
What the bicyclists are complaining about is how they have to compete with cars for the
use of the road, and the dangers they face. Now, here's a question I have to ask: If it's
so bloody dangerous, why do they still ride bicycles? Some cyclists have scars from their
lost encounters with cars. Well, if the buggers weren't in the street with such flimsy
bikes, maybe they wouldn't get hurt! Can it be that these idiota are showing the
"logic" so many conservatives describe liberals as having? Common sense dictates
that if something is too dangerous, you don't do it!!!! (Sounds like "personal
responcibility"!)
What this boils down to is that bicyclists know BLOODY (more ways than one!) well thet
the odds don't favour them. Yet, they keep the riding up. It's like the case of a skydiver
who, after surviving a fall where the chute didn't open complaining about losing an
argument with the planet... and getting in a plane to jump again.
If these people can't afford to drive - a legitimate reason - then they should take the
Bus. That's what public transport is for. Does anyone moan and whigne when they are
driving and lose an argument with a truck? No. Trucks are bigger. It's a fact of life.
Cars are bigger than a flimsy bicycle. Deal with it or get off the street. If I had it my
way, the bicycle would be outlawed on busy streets in the first place. Bicycles have no
place on a street with 2-tonne vehicles going 30 MPH or faster.
If these "critical mass" idiots ever drop their bicycle in front of my car,
I'll get out and throw the piece od shit onto the sidewalk where it belongs.
If you grep up "critical mass" and "bicyclists" and read
rec.bicycles.*, you'll discover discussions of violence toward drivers. For example, some
of these cretins advocate carrying spray paint to use on the windshields to ruin the
driver's ability to see where he's going! Others advocate packing heat.
What we need are "fighter cars" to deal with these cretins. How about new
options for 1998? How about "Ben Hur" hub caps, a PA microphone, dual "Red
Baron" machine guns, and heat-seeking missiles? Don't forget the SuperJoltTM outside
door handles to shock the shit out of skitching bicycle messengers? Don't forget the
bulletproof glass and Kevlar lining in the doors.
|
The National Bicycling and Walking Study report discusses numerous benefits that can
result from increasing bicycling and walking in our society in place of motorized
transportation. Such benefits include improved personal health and fitness, a cleaner
environment from reduced auto emissions, reduced congestion, reduced dependence on foreign
oil, and many others. However, U.S. society has primarily focused on providing roadways to
accommodate more and faster motor vehicle traffic, and many improvements are needed for
bicyclists and pedestrians. |
| In an increasingly congested county that is a magnet for bicycle enthusiasts and
promotes bikes as an alternative mode of transportation, most agree there needs to be a
dialogue on safety.
While police statistics would suggest that Marin County has become a slightly safer
place for cyclists over the past five years, bicyclists nevertheless are concerned.
Joe Louis of Mill Valley has been riding for 15 years in Marin. He senses there is a
new, dangerous climate on the streets and roads in Marin.
Statistics can tell you only so much; there is road rage out there, he
said. There is a lot of hostility, more than ever. Drivers think that the road is
only for them and they are annoyed when we are driving. They are driving lethal
weapons.
original article here
|
From: Judy DeMocker <jdemocker@sprynet.com>
To: Leon James <leon@hawaii.edu>
Subject: Re: San Francisco Examiner
Interview
So any theories on why bicyclists get targeted for hostile or aggressive behavior more
than, say, pedestrians do? As a cyclist, I've been honked at, cut off, threatened verbally
and physically, with apparently no regard to the fact that I'm *human* or that I have
equal rights and protection under the law to share the roads. At least the public
recognizes that pedestrians are blameless--there's no excuse for hitting one. It's a
subtly different story for a bicyclist, especially if you're talking to SF cops.
For motorists, what happens in them that they cannot recognize their bad behavior or
the consequences of it? Clearly some cognitive functions are being suspended, and for
quite some time. Apparently the driver of the semi truck was entirely unremorseful that he
ran Chris over and killed him, and was still challenging people to a fight.
And, what are the triggers for this sort of rage? You say it's learned behavior from
childhood-- What activates it? And it's hard to believe that it's not redirected rage, or
that the source of it is monkey see, monkey do. Is road rage just a socially sanctioned
way of dumping repressed emotions?
Judy
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2000 09:32:58 -1000
From: Leon James <leon@hawaii.edu>
To: Judy DeMocker jdemocker@sprynet.com
Subject: more answers for you
Regarding motorists vs. bicyclists. We discuss this opposition in our book. What's
amazing is that this opposition is purely role bound rather than person bound since the
majority of cyclists who are victims of drivers' aggressiveness are themselves regular
drivers when they drive, that is, pretty hostile and aggressive against cyclists. We have
no statistics on this unfortunately, but you can take it as our prediction if such data
were available.
There is here a role conflict between how we act and feel when driving a car and how we
act and feel when riding a bicycle.
Our analysis of the behavior of drivers and bicycle riders shows that (a) they are the
same people (at different times), and (b) they are naturally aggressive in both roles.
What, you say, aggressive bicyclists? Yes, we say, if you define aggressive in the sense
that we think it's important, which is that being aggressive on public roads is to impose
on others your own level of preferred risk or danger. For instance, the driver who side
swipes a bicyclist is being aggressive by deliberately exposing the cyclist to additional
danger and annoyance. Similarly, that same aggressive driver a few hours later will ride
the bike and act aggressively against drivers. How? Just observe them and you'll see. They
don't act as if they're aware of the driver's needs, perhaps impatience and emotional
disturbance. Some do, but many don't. Some do sometimes, but not at other times. Etc.
All of this goes back to childhood, as we said, both for how culture teaches us to
drive or to ride a bicycle. The warfare going on between motorists and cyclists is set up
for us by society. For example there are citizen groups that oppose each other across
driver-cyclist role conflicts (like your famous Critical Mass movement that spread across
the world--see our site for bicycling issues-- http://DrDriving.org/bicycling.html
> For motorists, what happens in them that they cannot recognize their bad
> behavior or the consequences of it? Clearly some cognitive functions are
> being suspended, and for quite some time. Apparently the driver of the semi
> truck was entirely unremorseful that he ran Chris over and killed him, and
> was still challenging people to a fight.
This is a process we call "cognitive dissonance" in our field of social
psychology. In order to defend and protect his own self-esteem, the perpetrator has to
inhibit feelings of remorse and instead, reinforces the self-serving explanations about
how he is not to blame for what happened. So denying guilt or remorse for these horrendous
actions are ways our culture teaches us to protect ourselves from excessive guilt and
anxiety. But we must point out that our culture also teaches us the opposite, namely that
we should feel remorse and guilt and that we should repent and apologize and try to make
restitutions, and above all, try to prevent it from happening again.
And in this respect our book is a kind of a call to consciousness for our society, just
as it happened to us as a couple, being recovered road ragers ourselves (though in
different ways for Leon and Diane--see our book). And so it's important for all of us 177
million licensed US drivers to monitor our thoughts and emotions behind the wheel, or as
bicyclicle riders, and as pedestrians and passengers. We are the same people who use the
public roads, alternating roles.
One way to go as a society is to keep increasing and strengthening the warfare,
politically and phyisically, meanwhile pretending that we are not the same people (our
book also deals with traffic calming, and how it sets up warfare situations--literally,
with pedestrians barricading the streets!). But another way is to heed the wake up call
and let's all start self-witnessing ourselves as road users--What our thoughts and
emotions are , and do we approve, or should we start reconditioning ourselves and become
supportive drivers, supportive bicyclists, supportive pedestrians?
It's not easy, but it can be done, and by doing it we strengthen community and society,
and mutually make our lives better. Our book goes into the exercises we can all do, day by
day, like keeping a Road Diary about what makes us mad or how we think of others, whether
cruelly or with compassion, and how we act. For instance, Diane often has to tell Leon,
Fix your face! Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists need to remember that their face is a
signboard on which they communicate frienship or hostility. The way we drive is
contagious--and also the way we ride a bicycle, or walk across the street, or wait in a
bank line. We can act like we ignore people, or we can act like we despise them, or we can
act like we respect and like them. We do this with our facial expression, our body
movements, our accommodating acts, or else by our facial hostility and oppositional acts
(like closing the gap so the car can't enter your lane, or following a bicyclist too
close, or approaching pedestrians too fast, or slowing down in the pedestrian lane when
walking, ignoring the waiting driver).
> And, what are the triggers for this sort of rage? You say it's learned
> behavior from childhood-- What activates it? And it's hard to believe that
> it's not redirected rage, or that the source of it is monkey see, monkey
> do. Is road rage just a socially sanctioned way of dumping repressed emotions?
Yes. When we visited Florida some time ago we witnessed shopping cart rage--people
ramming each other when they felt their way was blocked due to inattention or lack of
consideration. People sue each other all the time. Neighbors kill each other or do other
mischief to each other. Workplace rage has become a huge problem. So it's the age of rage
for sure. We think this offers a tremendous opportunity to unite as a community by
overcoming these culturally transmitted divisive methods of relating. Each of us must
decide whether we want to act with civility or with scowls.
Aloha,
Leon James and Diane Nahl
DrDriving.org
|
This article quotes Leon James
When good drivers go bad
For bicyclists and pedestrians, hitting the road
can be a deadly experience
By Judy DeMocker
Special to the _Examiner_
On the night of Nov. 17, Christopher Robertson was riding his bicycle on 4th Street in the
South of Market area of San Francisco. He was riding with 15 friends in a funeral
procession for bike messener Joseph Woods, who was shot and killed in his Mission Street
apartment earlier in Novermber. According to the traditions of S.F. bicycle messenger
commuity, when a messenger dies, his fellows take the bike on a ceremonial ride to Mission
Rock and throw it in San Francisco Bay. That night, however, Chris Robertson never made it
to the water's edge.
According to eyewitness Ron Salkin, it all happened very quickly.
A tractor-trailer came up behind the procession. Enraged that the group was occupying the
lane, Salkin said, the driver began weaving from one side of the road to the other,
blowing his horn repeatedly. Then the driver pulled alongside the group, shouting at them.
He threw a wooden block at the cyclists, trying to hit them. He swerved into the group,
crushing Chris under the right front wheel of his rig, Salkin said. Robertson died.
``You didn't even have to turn around; you could feel that this guy was going off --
laying on his horn, gunning his engine,'' said Salkin, who works as a bicycle messenger at
the Black Dog Delivery Service. ``If he had been trying to get around us, I presume he
would have sped up. There was no oncoming traffic. He could easily have passed us.''
The truck driver was traveling to Casey's Office Moving and Services Inc., two blocks from
the scene of the accident. So far no charges have been filed against the truck driver, who
was released on $15,000 bail. The District Attorney's office is investigating the incident
and plans to announce the results of its findings in the next week or two, according to
Fred Gardner, public information officer for the D.A.'s office. Gardner declined to
comment on how the investigation was going, or what charges the DA's office is
considering.
The death of Robertson has sparked widespread concern in the city, from bicycle activists,
Department of Parkng and Traffic officials, and the mayor's office. And it's brought to
the fore public safety issues for bicyclists and pedestrians alike: mainly, that they're
tired of being on the losing end of the battle for San Francisco's streets. At a rally
last week at the Hall of Justice building, bicycle commuters, activists, and messengers
aired their complaints about careless drivers and an unsympathetic police force.
``I'm sick and tired of getting harassed by motorists, and feeling like I'm not allowed to
be on the streets. Drivers don't understand that bicyclists have the same rights as cars
to use the roads,'' said Ginger Williamson, a bicycle commuter who was also a friend of
Robertson's. ``I'm tired of having drivers cut in front of me, shake their fists at me,
honk at me, when I'm not doing anything wrong.''
Others voiced complaints of being harassed by police and threatened with citations, even
when they were following rules of safe riding set out in the California Drivers' Handbook.
According to that pamphlet, bicyclists may occupy the lane, they may move into the road to
avoid debris or to make a left-hand turn.
``I got pulled over by a police car that told me I was weaving from lane to lane. I
wasn't. Then they told me that 70 to 80 percent of the time, injury accidents are the
bicyclist's fault.'' said another speaker at Friday's rally. ``So basically they're
blaming bicyclists for what is happening to them on the streets.''
Playing the who's to blame game
Too often, activist groups claim, the police do not take bicycle injuries and fatalities
seriously. There is only one case on the books this year in which a driver was charged
with a crime, attempted murder. That case was a Nov. 4 incident in which a motorist forced
a cyclist into a parked car on Mission Street, seriously injuring her.
``We're aware of the problem,'' said Lt. Lawrence Minasian of the S.F. Police Department.
``It's especially bad in the South of Market area.''
Criminal charges are hard to bring against automobile drivers, however, because proving
intent is much more difficult than when a gun or knife is used as a deadly weapon.
``It's very hard to establish intent in these cases. One person's going to say, `he did it
on purpose,' and the other's going to say, `no I didn't,''' said Inspector Mike Mahoney of
the Hit and Run Division of the San Francisco Police Department. ``Unless you can somehow
show that some sort of altercation happened beforehand, or that there was a relationship
between the people involved, it's very difficult to prove intent. People don't usually get
in their cars and say, `I'm going to go run someone down today.'''
But some members of the police force have already made up their minds as to who was at
fault on the night of Nov. 17, weeks before the investigation was completed.
``Do you mean the case where the bicyclist swerved in front of the truck and got run
over?'' said Sgt. Bosch, also of the Hit and Run division. ``What about the road rage of
bicycle drivers? I can't tell you how many cases I've seen of pedestrians getting knocked
down by bicyclists, and the number of broken hips when they hit the ground. The problem is
there's no licensing of management of particularly bicycle messengers.''
According to the Hit and Run Division database, which tracks pedestrian fatalities and
criminal cases involving traffic accidents, there has been only one case reported this
year of a cyclist hitting a pedestrian.
This `Blame the Victim' attitude is often heard in the police department. According to one
officer at the Hall of Justice rally, it is bicyclists, not drivers, who cause accidents
on city streets. Bike messengers in particular don't have much credibility with police,
since they are often seen as riding aggressively and flaunting traffic rules. ``Bike
messengers, with the way they conduct themselves, not obeying traffic lights and pulling
out in front of people, are causing a lot of accidents,'' said Minasian. ``There's another
side to this story.''
It's true that cyclists, like pedestrians, sometimes cause the accident that injures them.
More often, though, it's the driver's mistake that leaves a bicyclist or pedestrian lying
on the pavement. According to statistics kept by the California Highway Patrol over the
last five years, automobile drivers were at fault an average of 55 percent of the time in
injury accidents involving a bicycle.
The police department's blame-the-biker attitude has bicycle activists seeing red. By
stigmatizing the community of bicycle messengers, police are overlooking the estimated
25,000 peole who ride their bicycles to work each year, and the even greater number of
cycling enthusiasts who ride on evenings and weekends for pleasure. The entire spectrum of
the city's bicyclists is getting shortchanged, according to one bicycle advocate.
``We have encountered that attitude, and it's more than an attitude. It's prejudice. And
it affects the quality of the police work,'' said Dave Snyder, executive director of the
S.F. Bicycle Coalition. ``Whenever they get into a situation where they didn't see what
happened, police officers assume the bicycle rider was at fault.''
Bicycle Coalition frustrated
Snyder said that police are not following their own procedures for deaing with traffic
collisions. The Bicycle Coalition has dozens of cases on file in which police refused to
file accident reports. Without those reports, injury accidents do not get entered in the
police database and cannot be investigated by the District Attorney's office.
``I'm frustrated with it, really frustrated, and I don't have much hope of it getting any
better,'' Snyder said. ``How can we work on making bicycling safer, if three out of four
times a motorist hits a bicyclist, it doesn't get entered into the public record?''
Bicycling safely
The good news is that bicycling in the city is safer now than ever before, according to
Snyder. Bicyclist fatalities are fairly rare: two last year, three the year before, and
one this year, according to the Medical Examiner's office. Pedestrian deaths are also
fairly stable, hovering around 30 per year. So far this year, 28 people have been struck
and killed in San Francisco streets, according to police data. the biggest spike in
pedestrian deaths occurred in 1997, when 41 pedestrians were killed in a 12-month period.
For bicycles, injuries are on the rise, however. Last year 431 bicyclists were injured in
accidents with cars.
``It's safer out there than it had been in previous years, though it's still probably
10 times more dangerous than it ought to be,'' said S.F. Bicycle Coalition's Snyder.
``Bikers are smarter, safer, and car drivers are more used to seeing them on the
streets.''
Statistics can be misleading, however. No agency has measured the incidents of road rage
on San Francisco streets. The Police Department does not compile data on what percentage
of traffic collisions are intentional, or how often those cases are prosecuted and drivers
convicted. For instance, there was no record in the Hit and Run database of the 1998
beating of attorney Peter Rittling by an irate motorist while participating in
Bike-to-Work day. What is easily measured is the degree of hostility that cyclists
experience when they take to the roadways.
``I've noticed drivers getting less and less patient, and more and more aggressive,'' said
Eric Murphy, a legal assistant at a downtwon law firm who has ridden his bicycle on city
streets for nine years.
``I can't ride any distance at all anymore without seenig some kind of driver stupidity:
people blowing throuh stop signs, cutting in front of me in the lane, and being
inattentive, talking on cell phones.''
The reasons for driver hostility are not hard to find
Streets are more congested, and travel times are slower, especially in the South of Market
area. According to the Congestion Management report filed biannually by the County
Transportation Authority, travel speed dropped 40 percent on Mission Street near the
Embarcadero between 1997, and 1999, the same location where Rittling first encountered the
driver who spat on him, and later beat him in 1998.
Impatience and the holiday season, according to a researcher of the road rage phenomenon,
are two factors that can set off drivers.
``Most motorists drive around every day in an emotionally impaired state,'' said Dr. Leon
James, Professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii and co-author of Road Rage and
Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare, in an e-mail interview. James also
publishes the Web site www.DrDriving.org. According to James, the holiday season increases
stress on drivers, much as congestion, construction, and gridlock traffic do. More stress
can raise the level of hostility and create additional opportunities for confrontations
and violence.
Civility as a civic response
The city has done a good deal to raise awareness of pedestrian safety. It has installed
cameras to catch red-light runners. It has implemented traffic-calming measures in Duboce
Triangle and other neighborhoods to slow traffic down and make fat turns more difficult.
And it's established a Pedestrian Safety Task Force that facilitates communication between
government agencies and senior citizen, disabled, and environmental groups.
But even with educationa advertising campaigns, city officials say that the problem is not
going to go away.
``San Francisco is off the charts on pedestrian injury,'' said Michael Radetsky, health
educator at the Public Health Department and member of the Pedestrian Safety Task Force.
``What we're trying to do is get people to associate human frailty with what happens when
you race through the intersection.''
Bicycle activists are hoping for a similar level of commitment from government agencies
and City Hall to address issues of bicyclist safety. The mayor's office announced Dec. 1
its ``Share the Road'' public education campaign to help raise driver awareness of
bicyclist rights through signs and advertising. Under the program, the Department of
Parking and Traffic will spend $230,000 to raise public awareness of bicycle safety
issues. The mayor's office is not known for siding with bicyclists, however. In July 1997,
Mayor Brown supported the arrest of more than 250 cyclists during a Critical Mass
demonstration, calling for convictions that would lead to jail time for participants.
But for bicycle advocates, something is better than nothing, and they'll take what they
can get.
``Of course it's not enough,'' said cyclist Murphy, ``but it's a step in the right
direction.''
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| By IRA DREYFUSS
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- There was the driver who pulled a gun on him, and the driver who ran
a pickup truck onto a sidewalk after him, Christopher Scott recalled.
And this was only while Scott, a bicycle commuter in Washington, was doing his four
miles between his home and his job.
''Things do get a little hairy,'' said Scott, 25, who works in the membership
department at the League of American Bicyclists.
Things are too hairy, say officials of the bikers' organization. Road rage isn't simply
driver against driver -- it's driver against cyclist, too. And the bike group officials
want government officials, as well as drivers, to pay more attention to the risks that
cyclists face.
The association cited the fatal shooting May 5 of a 32-year-old Lakewood, Colo.,
cyclist by the driver of a pickup truck in what Denver police describe as a case of road
rage.
''It's an almost weekly occurrence'' to get some kind of abuse, Scott said. A driver
pulled a gun last summer after being unable to pass him on a crowded street, he said. And
in the same area, another man drove his pickup onto the sidewalk and started to chase him,
Scott said. In both cases, ''I clicked into full gear and got out,'' he said.
''Road rage is a growing and dangerous phenomenon,'' the league's executive director,
Elissa Margolin, said in a statement. Drivers and cyclists as well must learn to share the
road, she said.
The federal government also is concerned, but has no data on how large the problem may
be or whether it is growing, said Rosalyn G. Millman, acting director of the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Being out of emotional control is not regularly
singled out on police accident reports, she said.
For now, the agency is trying to distinguish between road rage and ''aggressive
driving,'' Millman said. The safety administration considers aggressive driving to be a
combination of unsafe driving behaviors, such as speeding and weaving in and out of
traffic, she said. That's less violent than road rage, which would mean ''criminal
behavior -- using the car as a weapon -- or using a weapon from a vehicle,'' Millman said.
Although the agency has been concerned primarily with driver-against-driver activity,
''clearly someone on a bike is very exposed. They don't have the protection of the metal,
like someone in a car would,'' Millman said.
Stopping road rage is up to both the driver and the cyclist, because the activity is an
interaction, said psychologist Leon James of the University of Hawaii. ''Both have traffic
emotions that they cannot keep under control because they are not trained to do so,'' he
said.
For the cyclist, this involves not demanding a share of the road when the driver
refuses to give it, said James, who has interviewed drivers and had them carry tape
recorders to capture their emotional reactions to traffic.
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