EXTREME ROAD RAGE: SHOULD BE BAN PEOPLE FROM DRIVING? - In the news today is one of the most disturbing pieces of Road Rage footage I have ever witnessed. A former police officer, Mr. Ken Olsen was driving in Brisbane, Australia when, for no apparent reason, another driver targeted him, for what can only be described as the most harrowing case of road rage ever caught on camera.
Mr. Olsen had a dashboard cam which allowed him to capture the entire incident and from the footage is it obvious he is seriously concerned for his safety as he talks to a police dispatch officer.
The incident ends after the other driver clambers onto the bonnet of Mr. Olsen’s car and smashed the window screen with his bare hands.
Considering the debate over gun control, one aspect of this argument is that a gun kills relatively few people a year compared to that of motor vehicle deaths and yet no one calls for the ban of motor vehicles – at least that’s the argument of pro gun lobbyists.
In almost all countries around the world it is a legal requirement to hold a drivers permit or license in order to operate a motor vehicle. However, once a person is given this right, through obtaining a licence, there are very few controls as how that person operates a motor vehicle on a daily basis.
We are all guilty of making mistakes, it’s in our very nature to do so, but when it comes to making a mistake on the road it appears very few people are tolerant and this often results in some form of road rage. Consider yourself walking around a supermarket on a busy Saturday afternoon – if someone bumped into you accidentally would this enrage you? The obvious answer here is ‘NO’ and in fact those involved are both likely to politely apologize to one another, smile with a little bit of embarrassment and go about with our shopping. So why, when we get behind the wheel of a vehicle does our attitudes change so much.
I have heard many theories, including that we feel invincible or detached from reality and that the road is for our personal use and woe betide anyone who invades that space.
As a result of this particular incident the person who engaged in such a vicious attack has recently telephoned police and is going to hand himself in to the authorities. It would be interesting to see exactly why he got so angry and that why such extreme act of road rage was leveled against Mr. Olsen.
We all have a responsibility to act with a little more care on our roads but again accidents and mistakes do happen and we need to realise that just because someone makes a mistake or causes an accident does not give others the right to such a violent act.
Road rage is a problem around the world and tougher laws need to be passed in order to deal with overly aggressive drivers. Maybe it is time to call for a Life Time Ban on anyone engaging in such a violent act.
Pingback: | Ban Drivers Caught Using a Mobile Phone