The normalization of aggressive driving is a symptom of an obvious contradiction: we demand road safety while rewarding impatience and competitiveness behind the wheel. Awareness campaigns fail because they ignore structural causes, such as poor traffic planning and work pressure to arrive quickly. Blaming only the individual driver is an incomplete solution.
Rethinking traffic from infrastructure and mobility 🚦
Current technology allows redesigning roads to calm traffic through raised roundabouts, controlled narrowings, and smart traffic lights that prioritize constant flow. An efficient public transport system, with exclusive lanes and regular frequencies, reduces the need for private cars. Stiffening penalties for dangerous maneuvers, such as reckless overtaking or speeding, is a necessary complement if applied with automated control systems.
The fast lane of social hypocrisy 😅
It is curious that we demand the driver to meditate on their road rage while the company times their commute and the city offers them poorly synchronized traffic lights. It seems the real solution is simpler: install a timer in each car that counts insults per minute. That way, upon arriving at work, we could exchange the accumulated points for a free coffee and a voucher for a relaxation course.