Trucking and Road Rage in America
It is believed that the term “road rage” originated from the United States. It is defined as an “aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle.” Professional truck drivers are no strangers to road rage, both as instigator but more often, victims. It is no secret that professional truck drivers experience a high level of stress from their jobs. Add various equations to the field, and the level rises.
With the road becoming more and more congested, combined with pressures placed on them by dispatch, regulations and the simple fact of just trying to earn a living during economic hardships, more incidents of road rage are occurring, with many going unreported. Very often, a seemingly small argument over the C.B. radio can turn into a deadly altercation, such as in the most recent case of the stabbing of one driver by another along the Edens Expressway in Illinois.
Professional truckers see everything there is to see while out on the road and road rage is no exception. Truckers are more often targets of road rage by the general public which still have many misconceptions about how an 18-wheeler is maneuvered. However, truck drivers experience road rage altercations by other truck drivers, as well. Days and even months on the road, away from family and any kind of home environment, the constant mental and physical exertion of awareness across the overcrowded highways of America, the need to meet shipper and receiver deadlines, the lack of proper rest and sleep, along with proper exercise and nutrition . . . the stress is unbelievable. The times arise when there are those who launch into a full-scale road rage assault, often times being turned from assailant to victim:
(Video contains “Strong Language”)
Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio took a close look at this serious issue which is recently making head line news across America:
“In 1999, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared Road Rage the most pressing traffic safety problem facing America. Allen looks at this driver behavior, its often deadly consequences and offers tips on preventing, as well as surviving a trucking Road Rage encounter.”
Originally Aired: Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 9 PM EST.
© 2010, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: Edens Expressway, road rage, road rage in America, Truckers, trucking, trucking talk radio
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Tagged with: Edens Expressway • road rage • road rage in America • Truckers • trucking • trucking talk radio
Filed under: Safety • Talk Radio Show • Truck Driving Jobs • otr trucking • trucking • trucking life
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That is CRAZY!! I’ve seen stuff like that though. Wow, mad people lol
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Did you get to hear the show about it that just finished? It’s on the replay if you you missed it.