A case of road rage opened a knife on a person, specifically 29-year-old Umesh Kalbande at Hiwri Nagar, Nagpur. After some time, Kalband was admitted to a private hospital, where he died. The Nandanvan Police has arrested the attacker. 

The second case is where a couple, who are the residents of Ghatkopar, attacked the Ola cab driver. The Ola driver accidentally hit the couple’s Audi car which led to the brutal trashing of the Ola Cab Driver. The couple has been identified as Rishabh Chakraborty (35) a Journalist and his wife Antara Ghosh (27). There is a video out on ‘X’ where Chakraborty can be seen beating Ansari. 

Understanding Road Rage  

Aggressive driving, or road rage, is a prevalent problem on roads. Road anger is common across the world, especially in India as there’s an increase in vehicle use, traffic jams, and sometimes irrational traffic behavior. 

Cause of Road Rage 

Traffic Congestion 

It is the major cause of road rage, seeing that more and more people own vehicles. Whereas appropriate road infrastructure remains hard to come by. When someone is stuck in traffic, the likelihood of them getting stressed and behaving aggressively goes higher which then further leads to incidents such as Road Rage, and Fights. 

Driving Culture 

Driving culture in India can be characterized by a high level of aggressiveness and common violations of the rules of the road. Examples of this include the tendency of the driver to constantly cut across lanes, running through red lights, and erratic overtaking.

Lack of Enforcement

Even though there are established traffic laws, enforcement of most of them is a major problem. This lack of vigorous enforcement of the law can make reckless drivers more daring on the road, leading to Road Anger which then leads to dangerous incidents on the road.

Stress and pressure

It is a proven fact that life in the Indian cities is stressful, and driving in a traffic-congested environment further intensifies this stress. The concerns with the need to get to certain places within a short time compel individuals to act in an unruly and reckless manner on the roads.

Cultural Attitudes

For some people, road rage is an assertion of power. Drivers think that being aggressive on the road can make them overpower other people, especially when they are right. In India, there’s a line that people tend to say a lot: ‘tu jaanta nahi hai, mai kon hu’ (you don’t know who I am).

The Human Cost

Road rage behaviors are very dangerous; their outcomes can be catastrophic. Aside from realistic risks of accidents, outright aggressive driving might as well result in severe injuries or death. Anger can be even lethal as it results in deaths, and families are left to deal with these tragedies.

 The surge of aggressive and domineering behaviors on the roads could be attributed to other factors, such as the need to exercise power. To some individuals, such aggressive driving behavior is not just fun and adventure but also power. What is equally shocking is that this misplaced sense of power and authority comes much too often at a very high cost. One must understand that this behavior is extremely dangerous and poses a threat not to the driver alone but to anybody who is on the road.

What measures do different countries take to prevent road rage? 

Australia

Anger on wheels is not well tolerated in New South Wales. The legal consequences for a driver that is involved in an assertive, aggressive, or menacing manner towards any other vehicle include the possibility of receiving a maximum of five years imprisonment and a fine of AU $100,000 (about IN ₹57 Lakh) and having the driver’s license suspended. In addition, if in road rage one is found to have committed an act of violence whereby the victim suffers harm and/or the other vehicle is damaged intentionally, then the consequences become more severe. 

Singapore 

Aggressive driving or road rage is a criminal offense in Singapore. Such persons may be jailed for up to two years or subjected to a fine of up to SG $5,000 (about IN ₹3.21 Lakh) if the aggression leads to physical injury. 

United Kingdom 

In the United Kingdom, the Public Order Act of 1986 has imposed legal responsibility on anyone who incites an assault or affray, particularly on public roads. This law prohibits actions that could make people feel unsafe or threatened in public spaces. It also prohibits making threats that would cause discomfort to anyone. 

Japan 

Road Rage is followed strictly by punishment in Japan. The offenders can be imprisoned for an utmost of five years, fined up to YEN I Million, approximately INR ₹5.75 Lakh, and face the cancellation of their driving license, which shows how seriously the country punishes those who compromise road safety. 

Steps Toward a Safer Road Culture in India 

Improved Traffic Management 

Enhancing the standards of roads and ways leading to control of congestion can help reduce some of the causes of road anger. More signs and better signals also help in having a better structure of the traffic and flow of cars. 

Enhanced Law Enforcement 

Toughening measures that are related to the traffic laws enforcing and enhancing penalties for reckless drivers remain important steps. Some elements of this approach include not only fining but also the predictable punishment of the drivers for the committed acts. 

Technology and Surveillance 

Using surveillance technologies like cameras and traffic management systems can be effective in analyzing the behavior of aggressive drivers and subsequently punishing them, thus improving traffic standards. 

A Call for Empathy and Responsibility 

However, road rage does not just mean implementing laws or measures; it’s about fostering a sense of empathy and responsibility. Every person out there is dealing with something on their own. But that doesn’t give you the right to take out your anger on anyone else. By acknowledging the human side of driving, we can create a safe road environment. 

In a country like India, where there are not any strict traffic rules, addressing road rage requires a collective effort. Together, we can build an environment where the road and traffic rules must be respected. The question becomes “Will we?”.