If you want to know what Anarchy, Bickering, Chaos, Fracas, Imbroglio, Melee, Rumpus and Skirmish mean just take out your car on any  city road. It won’t take you long before you automatically understand the meaning of these and many more such words.                

Living life in the fast lane and driving fast cars are both fraught with danger. The constraint of time and the pressure of meeting targets set forth a chain reaction of perpetual irritability. The habit of breaking law acts as a catalyst in this reaction and the end product is generally an ‘explosion’.              

The anxiety and tension of day to day living leads to resentment and anger. It can make an otherwise normal person vengeful. At the slightest provocation he may commit a savage offence against an unsuspecting, unfortunate automobile driver.             

As it is, there is no distinct line separating the normal from abnormal state of mind. Excitement can make one cross this line in a jiffy. This momentary rising of blood can convert an otherwise placid guy into a bloodthirsty demon.  What Causes Road Rage? Seven Pointers:

1.      Overcrowded roads.

2.      Poorly maintained roads.

3.      Mismanaged traffic.

4.      Competitiveness and the urge to overtake.

5.      Cutting corners in maintenance of the vehicle.

6.      Giving two hoots for the traffic rules.

7.      Failure of public transport system. 

Five points worth remembering:

1.      Roads are meant for driving your car and not for picking up fights.

2.      Parking your car is not synonymous with dumping it anywhere at the first opportunity.

3.      Overtaking each and every vehicle is not a measure of your testosterone level (the male hormone).

4.      Other car drivers also have horns, flashers and a substantial knowledge of invectives. It is only that they choose not to use them.

5.      It is better to reach your destination late but alive than reaching early but dead.  [If you have an iota of common sense and even a gram of grey matter inside your skull use it to memorise these points. They may prevent the unnecessary maiming we witness daily on our roads.]   What kind of a person you are behind the wheel? Are you a loveable, serene person or do you behave like Mad-Max, intent upon shoving everybody else off the road. Take this test to find out. 

The Quiz

1. You find driving to be:

A.     Fun and relaxing

B.     Challenging

C.     Nerve wrecking

D.     The means to prove that other drivers are incompetent nincompoops

2. While driving, how often are you cursing and fuming?

A.     Almost never

B.     Occasionally

C.     Most of the time

D.     100% of the time

3. If a person in front of you is driving slowly, do you:

A.     Change lane and wait for the opportunity to overtake him

B.     Honk your horn constantly

C.     Bring your car very close and make the fool run for his life

D.     Overtake the idiot and slow down in front of him, all the time waving your fist out of your car window

4. How do you rate yourself as a driver?

A.     Good

B.     Superior

C.     Better than most on the road

D.     I am the best

5. Which phrase describes you the best?

A.     You like people

B.     You like some people

C.     You dislike people

D.     Most people are horrible 

The scoring system

 ·        For every A give yourself 1 point

·        For every B give yourself 2 points

·        For every C give yourself 3 points

·        For every D give yourself 4 points

·        For every E give yourself 5 points 

Your Road Rage Quotient

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