Keep your cool on the road

by Anna Barbara L. Lorenzo 23 Jul 2009

Road rage may start out with a plain and simple expletive, yet it could get complicated and lead to fatalities.

But just like many accidents on the road, traffic altercations may be avoided.

Honda Safety Driving Center president Arnel Doria said the road may be a peaceful place if drivers follow these guidelines:

1. Do not drive when you have an emotional baggage. "When you're upset, or you just had a fight with your girlfriend or your wife, every little thing will irritate you. It's better to cool down first before getting on the road," Doria said.

2. Do not bring a gun when driving. It's simple, really. If you don't have a gun, you won't have a trigger to pull.

3. Remember the right driving values. Doria said exercising patience and courtesy on the road is the best way to avoid getting involved in road altercations.

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COMMENTS

• Jonathan says Nice post. I like this and i already add this links to my favorates. (07 August 2009)
• arnel says Do not drive if you are not mentally and physically fit. You are not fit if your have any of these adverse conditions: a. Tired b. Angry c. Worried d. Under the influence of alcohol e. Unstable emotional state f. Eyesight problem g. Hearing problem (03 September 2009)
• m_Adonis says Driving in Philippine road has been a challenge for sometime now (traffic, unruly PUV, Taxi, weaving motor bikes and the occassional unrespectfull driver). Alot of patience, understanding and common courtesy would really help in dealing with there scenarios... (08 September 2009)
• rose says No. 1 Sometimes we get upset, now it depends on the driver how he/she will be effected by these emotions, maturity comes in question. No. 2 This guideline will irritate responsible gun owners, and according to surveys, only 3% of gun-related minor crimes comes from licensed firearms, bad guys don't adhere to any laws, gun-free zones, PTCFOR, gun ban, only responsible gun owners are affected, and they will not use their firearm in a simple car accident, incident or near-miss. And I assume that those who are very vocal to anti-guns usually have them. 3.) This is definitely right, some drivers actually get angry wherein they are the ones who don't know driving etiquettes. WHAT I DO : Keep cool, assume some drivers are only new, make excuses for them, it works. (10 September 2009)
• dennisdko says avoid drag racing on the streets, always think that everybody stops in the next red light. (16 September 2009)
• spike says be observant while driving, always accept the fact that drivers commits mistakes at no time. (13 October 2009)
• daredevil says good posts guys! thanks! road rage was a part of my everyday driving but just recently, i "vowed" to eliminate it, and to never have it again. but of course, it's not an overnight process, sometimes, i lose my cool, but thanks to articles and posts like these, i get reminded all the time. happy driving everyone! (26 November 2009)
• skapunkboy01 says Don't drive if you don't have a license. Don't show off if your car is cheap with changed muffler and air intake. Buy a sports car or luxury car if you want to show off. Sorry if you don't have the money. (17 December 2009)
• Erick says Ako iniisip ko nalang pag may nakakaasar na mga driver, pangit sila. Hahaha :) (29 December 2009)
• wenna says LOL@Erick. Yan na din isipin ko lagi. thanks for the tip. (30 December 2009)
• ajOT says as you drive always take it easy and dont drive as if you are experiencing a turmoil in your stomach.... you may not know what could happen, so STOP driving like you own the road and if you wanna drive really fast and test the limits of your car, cmon, please, if you want to drive fast, drive it in the racetracks not in national road(s). (16 January 2010)
• jowel says The problem is the culture of filipino PUV drivers. It's business, they try to jock as many passengers as they can without thinking that they are causing traffic jams. Another thing is when PUV drivers swerve dangerously to you, your immediate reaction is to confront them since you felt threatened, it could've caused you life threatening injury or worse your life. Although you should control your anger but in instances like that, I would say that I will confront them and might as well give them a little spanking to give them a lesson. I already did to a taxi driver who almost hit my mother, it felt good at first but then I felt guilt later since he had to bring himself to the hospital for some stitches, he might have a family to feed pa...you know what I mean....hirap ng buhay (16 January 2010)
• BratPAQ says isa sa mga question sa LTO exam makes sense to this topic, "Wag ipilit ang karapatan." This is about traffic rules. Example, kung nasa one way road ka at tama yung way mo, at may nakasalubong kang counterflow, ano ang gagain mo? Haharangan mo ang nagcounterflow para mapilitan syang umatras dahil ikaw naman ang tama? O padadaanin mo na lang sya at tatabi ka kahit ikaw ang tama? I would choose the later, kasi andito ako sa tapat ng computer at kalmado ako, pero kung nasa kalye na ko at nagmamaneho, pareho pa rin kaya ang pipiliin ko? (02 February 2010)
• JBM 67 says Road rage is the DEVILs thing.We need to pray before driving off and ask GOD to give us patience,humility and understanding.Always think that your family is waiting back home.Im sure lahat tayo nagkamali na sa driving style natin coz no one is perfect.Let's be considerate mga brod! Happy motoring.. (01 March 2010)
• hahha says we should all be cool but it is still always better to have guns in cars incase we get into an altercation where the other party has guns..at least we can defend ourselves..but always put into our minds we wont use guns unless then other party has one also like the saying goes "if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns" (26 March 2010)
• Cryss says I know myself too much. I'm hot tempered that is why I should not bring a gun. I might be the next Ivler. Before when a PUV cuts me, hahabulin ko sya and cut ko rin sya. I used to believe kse na di nila malalaman ang ginagawa nila hanggat di nangyayari sa kanila that is why kung ano ginawa nila, ganun din gagawin ko sa kanila. But now I try to be cool headed specially kpag ksama ko wife and child ko. I have to agree with eric, nowadays kapag may nang cut skin na PUV I just say outloud to myself G@GO ka or mas pogi ako sayo =). Yes it is not an overnite process as daredevil says, minsan umiinit pa rin ulo ko specially when I have a bad day so read lets read guideline #1 again. Just think of it this way, tayo yung mas may pinag-aralan and tayo yung mas nakaka-intindi kaya intindihin na lang natin yung PUV drivers thou it takes a lot of patience and humility to do that all the time. (23 April 2010)
• Rafi Uy says I admit...I have a very bad temper that flares up, specially when I encounter morons on the street that drive anything from a jeepney, taxi, or just about anything that uses >2 wheels on the street. It's hard to control your temper, but I get by simply by venting my anger ASAP, which means I'm a bit loud when I drive and I mean when I refer to other drivers on the road, for me, letting my frustrations out is better than bottling it in and bursting at some point later in the day. I guess this is just me...not sure if it works for everybody, we each have our own way of dealing with road rage. (04 May 2010)