This Side Up

The real cause of road rage

By John Howell
Posted 7/26/16

“Can’t you go a little faster?” I muttered under my breath.

“What did you say, Peppy?” came the voice of my granddaughter from the back seat.

Before I had time to repeat myself, her …

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This Side Up

The real cause of road rage

Posted

“Can’t you go a little faster?” I muttered under my breath.

“What did you say, Peppy?” came the voice of my granddaughter from the back seat.

Before I had time to repeat myself, her mother answered from the passenger seat, “It’s just what I said the other day.”

So Diana, who is visiting from Jackson, Wyoming, has the same feeling about some Warwick drivers.

What is it? They seem to have regulators on their vehicles that won’t let them exceed 30 mph on every two-lane road? Put them on Airport Road or Warwick Avenue and they speed up to 45, maybe even exceed the speed limit. But on Sandy Lane or most of West Shore Road, they slow right down no matter how open the road is ahead.

As we inched toward the library and the Warwick Avenue intersection on Sandy Lane, I glanced at the speedometer. The needle dropped to 20. Maybe the driver ahead was getting ready to turn, but unfortunately that wasn’t going to happen. Ahead cars were lined up at Warwick Avenue and I knew if we could go just a little faster – maybe all of 30 – I could make the light by the time it turned green.

I looked in the rearview mirror. There were five or six cars. The guy behind me was practically on my bumper. I squeezed a little closer to the driver ahead. Diana, even Natalie in the back seat, was feeling the frustration. I was sure of it.

What is it? Do you think you own the road? Drive the speed limit, you’re holding up a bunch of people. Look in your mirror, I thought.

Or are you deliberately doing this? Are you deriving a vicarious thrill knowing everyone is going to try to pass you when you get on Warwick Avenue, but you’re going to speed up?

The thought made me even angrier.

Even on Sandy Lane, I’ve seen motorists pull into the opposite lane, flash an obscene gesture, and pass the offending driver. More frequently, I’ve watched people flick their lights and heard them lean on their horn from the rear of the line.

The reactions fit the behaviors found in a study recently released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The study reported that when angered:

- 51 percent of American drivers tailgate;

- 47 percent yell at another driver;

- 45 percent honk their horns;

- 33 percent make gestures (I have a good guess of what that might be);

- 24 percent try blocking another vehicle from changing lanes;

- 12 percent cut off another vehicle on purpose;

- 4 percent get out of their car to confront another driver;

- and 3 percent bump or ram another car on purpose.

The report said drivers in the Northeast are more prone to lashing out at other drivers. I didn’t find a breakdown by state, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if Rhode Island – once again – held the honors.

And I know why.

It’s the roads. It’s not the other drivers. Consider West Shore and the manhole covers that have been strategically located so that you’re forced to hit them unless you weave into the oncoming traffic or practically drive on the sidewalk, the traffic lights that are timed to make it impossible to get through consecutive intersections, and the potholes that jump out where you least expect them.

And then, of course, there’s all the construction. If it’s not the bridge or roadwork that, after all should make life better, there’s the ongoing replacement of gas lines and sewer work. All of it sets the stage for the anger to follow. And who do we get angry at, but our fellow drivers.

Not convinced?

Take the test.

Drive the new section of the relocated Main Avenue. The pavement is smooth – in fact, Peter Frazier of Green Airport tells me it’s a form of “silent” asphalt – the travel lanes are wide and defined. There are curbs and there’s a sidewalk. It’s like few other Rhode Island roads.

And, remarkably, it’s refreshing, uplifting, and I’ll bet you won’t hear any honking or see obscene gestures.

Comments

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  • gwsjr75

    I am not going to disagree that some of Warwick's roads are rough, but I am going to disagree that I have some sort of obligation to drive the speed LIMIT. If I feel safe driving 30 in a 35 mph zone, I think that is just fine. And I think it's far better than the people who drive 35 mph through Conimicut Village and other places where there are 25 mph zones on major roads. On Church Avenue there have been multiple deaths from people driving too fast, but I don't think anyone has died from someone driving 25 mph on its 30 mph speed limit curves. Indeed, there is a huge increase in risk to pedestrians and bicyclists when a car's speed increases from 30 mph to 40mph. I think the best thing about Warwick's bad roads is that they keep speeds down. Notably, my experience on the new Main Avenue stretch is that the curves have appropriately decreased speeds, which were too high on the prior straight stretch, especially where the road is so narrow (and where others have lost their lives in head-on collisions over the years). Remember, as far as accidental deaths go, the big risks in the US today are guns and cars, and those are about equal to one another.

    Tuesday, July 26, 2016 Report this

  • warwick10

    I agree, improving our roads makes for safer drivers... And yes, drivers driving 20 mph where the posted speed limit is 35 mph is a safety issue! My pet peeve-- drivers who don't know how make a right turn (with caution) on red!

    Wednesday, July 27, 2016 Report this