PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are used to hearing about road rage cases every now and then.
They might even have been the target of road rage, which is at best unpleasant. In the worst case, it could escalate into a situation that caused injuries or death.
Violent and unprovoked attacks are rare, but it pays to be observant and if possible to recognise signs of trouble at their earliest stages.
Here are some tips to spot trouble when motoring along the road, courtesy of GEM Motoring Assist, a UK-based recovery service association.
1 Keep calm and show restraint. Every journey brings the risk of frustration and conflict. Make a pledge to be patient. Avoid using your horn or making gestures in anger.
2 Avoid competition and resist the desire to ‘get even’. If the standard of someone else’s driving disappoints you, don’t attempt to educate or rebuke them.
3 Don’t push into traffic queues. If you wait and clearly signal, you won’t wait long before another drive lets you in.
4 Say thank you, say sorry. Courtesy encourages co-operation on the road. If you make a mistake (and we all do!) or perhaps cut things a bit fine, then a gesture of apology avoids confrontation and helps defuse anger.
5 Move away from trouble. If you feel seriously threatened by another driver, then ensure your car doors are locked and drive (at legal speed) to the nearest police station or busy area (petrol stations are ideal). Use your mobile phone to alert the police. Pressing the horn repeatedly or continuously is likely to deter a potential attacker.
