A recent CBC documentary highlighted the growing problem
of road rage in which even the most unlikely people are losing their cool.
Aggressive drivers are endangering themselves and others on streets and highways
which are daily becoming more congested. This aggressiveness manifests itself in
speeding, tailgating, frequent lane changing, excessive cell phone talking,
gesturing, yelling and horn blowing, endangering safety and security. “The sense
of anonymity we feel in our cars, especially when driving in areas where no one
knows our vehicle, may lower our inhibitions to behave aggressively”.
Who has not been angered by other driver, feared being late for an appointment
or risked travelling under poor road conditions? If one is not firmly rooted and
upright, it is easy to react rather than act, and become a pawn in a
quickly-moving drama.
The automobile can be a dangerous weapon, particularly in the hands of one who
is angry, overly self-confident, worried, distracted or inebriated. Epictetus,
who lived in the first century A.D., provided some guidance on this 21st century
phenomenon. He advised that we pity perpetrators because they have adopted
unsound beliefs and are deprived of the most valuable human capacity: the
ability to differentiate between what's truly good and bad for them.
It is not possible to change people but we can alter our own behaviour by
gaining mastery of ourselves. The inner work of transforming the faults of fear,
inattention and self-centredness to the lasting virtues of courage,
concentration and generosity, whether in driving or in life, is vital in
building a more harmonious world.
