The Solution to Road Rage

[aniken]

Wave road rage goodbye

By MARK SKELSEY State Political Reporter

April 29, 2004

EVERY day, drivers in the grip of road rage fling abuse, obscene gestures and even punches at fellow motorists.

Now the head of the State Government's road safety committee claims to have the answer – government-sanctioned hand signals.

Staysafe Committee head Paul Gibson wants official "I'm sorry" signals used on our roads.

He told The Daily Telegraph the symbols should be used by motorists when they realise they have done something wrong – such as a dangerous lane change – and want to apologise to another motorist.

Mr Gibson said the gestures would take the aggression out of potential road-rage incidents and wants the Roads and Traffic Authority to back the scheme to give the hand signals official status and community credibility.

Mr Gibson has a short list of potential symbols.

These include raising the left arm near the rear-view mirror with the fingers outstretched to say sorry, or alternatively, placing the left arm on the windscreen.

Other courtesy signs could include friendly waves from the steering wheel, a touching of the forehead or head or simply a old-style shrug of the shoulders.

Mr Gibson said these gestures could become recognised across NSW, if not the world.

"Road rage is becoming a very real issue in road safety – drivers seem to have a lot of hand signals for 'up yours' but few signals for 'sorry'," he said.

"Eye contact, a wave and a smile can do wonders and it will relax other drivers and humanise the situation by defusing tension.

"Camaraderie between drivers seems to have disappeared.

"Remember when VW or Renault drivers used to wave at fellow owners when they passed on the road?"

An Australian Automobile Association survey released last October found 14 per cent of drivers nominated aggressive driving as a "major problem" on the roads.

Two weeks ago, a national parks ranger told Wollongong Local Court how he was the victim of a frightening road rage incident.

The ranger said another motorist, who has been charged with menacing driving, had allegedly slowed when he slowed, sped up when he sped up, tailgated him, and also gestured violently and pulled his finger across his throat.

The incident allegedly happened as the drivers travelled from Bulli Tops to Wollongong CBD.

An RTA spokeswoman said the organisation would consider Mr Gibson's idea, providing it did not cause a driver to lose control.

"The RTA is happy to consider any proposal to improve safety on our roads as long as it doesn't interfere with the safe operation of a vehicle," the spokeswoman said.

"A signal for sorry or thank you may avoid anger or frustration in the offended driver."

The spokeswoman said the RTA supported safe road behaviour by encouraging drivers to avoid pressure situations and to not drive when angry or upset.

The Daily Telegraph

This report was published at www.dailytelegraph.com.au

[KEN 24T]

I find this works a treat:

:banghead:

[Cro]

I find this works a treat:

:banghead:

Some other ways of avoiding road rage :lol:

[JB]

This idea was put up by a similar body in Melbourne a couple of years ago. It was on the front page on the Herald Sun and lasted about 5 minutes before the public crushed it and threw it out the window!

[pym]

I have the answer to road-rage....quite simple really....use your f**king indicators.

[FORDXR]

I have a better way to STOP "Road Rage" It is simple and its called Driver Education.

You often wonder how some people get there licence then you remember all one needs to do is be 16 then pay the RTA (NSW) a licence fee do a really stupid computer test (in your language for Gods sake) and now you are a driver with a license to go out and kill someone.

:middlefingerred: RTA

[pym]

I have a better way to STOP "Road Rage" It is simple and its called Driver Education.

You often wonder how some people get there licence then you remember all one needs to do is be 16 then pay the RTA (NSW) a licence fee do a really stupid computer test (in your language for Gods sake) and now you are a driver with a license to go out and kill someone.

:middlefingerred: RTA

Simply put....Well done.

[slapnut]

My answer to road rage.....

GET OUT OF MY WAY!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[plonky]

I saw the interview with 'Comrade' Gibson

Yeah....just a funny handshake and that will stop the Road rage. That didn't stop him for abusing and denigrating a Highway Patrolmen for catching him doing 82 in a 60 a couple of years ago in the Mt Druitt area.

What a load of crap. The defining factor in this whole story was where some fellow said that if you use your indicators, give way when you're supposed to and keep out of the overtaking lane, then there shouldn;t be any 'road rage'.

As a matter of fact, I've been trying to educate my troops at my new station to go out on the M4, sit in the Number three lane doing 15-20 over, making sure that the sign on the roof bar "Keep left unless overtaking" is illuminated and booking all the people that use the overtaking lane unnecessarily.

Before anyone makes a cheap shot, Rule 305 of the ARR's exempt me from exceeding the speed limit and sitting in the overtaking lane and the reason for doing it is to ensure the free flow of traffic in peak times, not to booking people for doing 10k over the limit and stop imbeciles from slowing down then traffic flow because they dont know the road rules.

[ktford]

blow 'em a kiss, always livens things up!

Scotty CCC