Road Rage - Essay

Words: 968
Pages: 4

Can You Define Road Rage? It seems like you can’t drive more than two miles today without encountering road rage. Some say that road rage is a national epidemic more dangerous than drunk driving. Others find it to be a perpetual but insignificant problem. Needless to say, almost everyone agrees that road rage is an actual attitude that can be observed on most American roadways. But what is road rage? Is it some kind of medical condition? A certain habit or behavior? Or maybe it’s an actual traffic accident? Road rage has a short but interesting history. The term “road rage” first appeared in England in 1988 and gained popularity rapidly. Mentioned only about two dozen times in 1994, there was …show more content…
New York has also recently passed road rage legislation. On February 9, 1998, Governor Pataki announced the bill saying ”this bill sends a clear message to those who choose to jeopardize the lives of others by turning New York’s roads and highways into danger zones. Too many collisions are not accidents. If you choose to operate your car in a reckless, irresponsible manner, you will be arrested and punished to the maximum extent the law will allow.” New York defines aggressive driving, or road rage, as “the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle in a hostile manner, without regard for the safety of other users of the highway. Aggressive driving includes frequent or unsafe lane changes, failing to signal, tailgating, failing to yield right of way, and disregarding traffic controls.” Legal definitions help to define road rage, however, obscene or menacing behavior towards other drivers is also a factor in the term’s definition. Road rage can also be defined as simple acts of aggression which are menacing to other drivers. For example, a car is going slower than the speed limit and the driver behind it is late for work and speeding. The fast driver will inevitably become angry, start to swear at the other driver and pass him. While passing, the aggressive driver may display some obscene hand