[EDITOR’S NOTE] Are you guilty of road rage?
Have you ever behaved badly on the road? What makes you see red? I would love to hear your experiences.
Dear Reader,
Are you guilty of road rage? At some point, most of us have lost our cool on the roads.
If you’re anything like me, witnessing the arrogant flouting of road safety and traffic laws is enough to make you see red.
Many years ago, a fellow Newcastillian was killed in a road rage incident.
Last week, after six long years, Greg Ihlenfeldt’s family finally received closure.
ALSO READ: Detailed testimony brings ‘road rage’ trial to a close after 6 years
This brought my own behaviour into question – is a few minutes of explosive rage justified or worth it, when you could potentially lose your life?
Every year, statistics around the holiday period paint a stark picture of the state of road safety in South Africa.
As the media, we are often on the front line to horrific stories of tragedy and loss, where a few moments of neglect, conceit, ignorance or even wilful negligence cause heartbreaking tragedy on the roads each day.
It is difficult to remain impartial as you are left to sift through the wreckage of lives lost, and listen as family members break down.
Every year around Easter and Christmas, these incidents become more pronounced as stress levels rise and motorists seemingly ‘forget how to drive’.
While we may be lucky enough, in a town as small as Newcastle, to avoid the red flags that accompany staggering traffic jams, it does not seem to dilute temper flares when faced with those who break the rules of the road.
This holiday season, I want to urge you to take a deep breath before you react.
Take this survey to see how your road habits compare to those of fellow Newcastle motorists
Before you hold that finger up, before you let loose a torrent of words that will no doubt leave your parents threatening to wash your mouth out with soap… Think about the consequences of your actions and remember that courtesy and kindness on the road speak more to true character than anger and frustration.
Have you ever behaved badly on the road? What makes you see red? I would love to hear your experiences.
Send me an email: reveshni@caxton.co.za or call me on 034 312 6021.
ALSO READ: Faraday Street road rage killer sentenced to 15 years behind bars
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Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za
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