It happens to you every day – a car cuts in front of you, missing your car’s bumper by a few millimetres. Your blood pressure rises, you raise your voice, and all of a sudden you find yourself going toe to toe with another driver.
Road rage can escalate to violent behaviour and put both drivers at risk.
One incident of road rage in Randfontein was aimed at Hendrik Phiri. He was driving on the R28 when a man in a bakkie behind him started flashing his headlights. The bakkie recklessly overtook him and the occupants showed him the middle finger.
“I tried to pass the bakkie after we had crossed the intersection, but the man recklessly blocked my vehicle several times,” Phiri said. Phiri continued to drive behind the bakkie but all of a sudden the man hit the brakes, almost causing him to crash into the bakkie. Fortunately he manages to escape with unscathed.
Tips on how to be a polite driver and prevent aggressive behaviour from other drivers:
• Control your own anger
• Always stay calm when another driver behaves inappropriately
• Do not make eye contact with an aggressive driver
• Do not make obscene gestures
• Do not tailgate
• Use your hooter sparingly – even a polite honk can be misinterpreted
• Do not block vehicles trying to pass you
• If you are stuck in traffic, leave enough room for yourself to escape
• Do not flash your headlights to a car in front of you
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