Temporary Madness

Road rage is real. And it is dangerous. My laymen understanding of it, is that it basically happens when your chimp brain (limbic system) perceives a serious threat & takes over, overriding all sensible & logical signals from your human brain (neocortex) and opts for a highly aggressive response. I also believe that in a majority of cases, the aggressor would later regret their actions deeply.

The recent incident in Delhi that is making headlines is particularly tragic. The victim was beaten to death in front of his minor sons. If media reports are correct, the accused is someone of influence, who in the past has been charged with committing many violent crimes. I really hope that the person(s) responsible are convicted and sentenced to jail for life.

Now, if you have the misfortune of being involved in an accident with someone like that, it is very difficult to control the situation and escape unharmed. But in a majority of cases, the parties involved will be regular folk and in those cases, road rage can very much be avoided.

I am sharing a few tips here in the hope that it comes in handy to someone.

Do Not Provoke Road Rage

• Do not immediately step off the bike or out of the car in anger and make aggressive, threatening gestures. Remember that road rage is a very primitive response so you need to ensure that the chimp inside the other person does not feel threatened. So first and foremost, diffuse the situation. Do not escalate it.

• If you are fault, apologize profusely to the other person. 

Do Not Give In to Road Rage

• Leave a little earlier than usual. I have noticed that when I am in a hurry, I tend to drive fast (maybe even rash) and am much more prone to getting easily upset and angry by small things. But when I leave early and am in no hurry, I drive patiently and don't get perturbed even if someone cuts me off or does something stupid. I do get irritated, but not in the "how dare he" kinda way. And that makes all the difference.

• Another strategy that works for me, is imagining that the other person may be a martial arts expert, or armed or both. All ideas of aggression vanish right there. I am not trying to make light of a serious issue. It is genuinely a good practice to remind yourself that you may get beaten up.

Roads are dangerous as it is. The last thing we need is to fall prey to our baser instincts and increase the fatality rates. Be calm when you drive. Do not text or call while driving. And whatever you do, do not let your chimp takeover in an altercation!