It's gonna be all the rage.....

What is it about strapping into a 3000 pound weapon on wheels that turns normally mild mannered and reasonable people into “raging lunatics”? 

I think every state should have a sign like the one with which we greet out of state drivers in New Hampshire:  “Drive with courtesy, it’s the New Hampshire way.”

I have often espoused the notion that the car horn should only be used as a defensive mechanism and not an offensive and obnoxious manifestation of the driver’s often misplaced anger. Like most things in our civilized society, there are certain unwritten but accepted rules and etiquette.   For example, a light tap on the horn is sufficient to alert the driver "texting" in the car in front of you that the light has turned green. 

There is a certain sign language that we have developed to convey both contrition and outrage to other drivers.  Misinterpretation or poor execution of Charades like mime displays are often cause for driver irritation. Like when I mime “oops” after cutting in front of another car who was in my blind spot and it is either missed or misinterpreted, it may elicit anger from my fellow driver. I’m sure we have all been the signer or the recipient of the universal hand signal for outrage.  Nothing good can come of that particular winged (and flipped) hand signal.  

Now I admit to being as guilty as the next guy  for yelling at other drivers for their vehicular faux pas. I have also been guilty of unintentionally committing my share of offenses which I’m sure elicited profuse and profane outbursts from my fellow drivers.

So here’s my idea: 
 My (patent pending) “RPMS” system.  Roadrage Prevention Marquee System.

All vehicles would be equipped with both a front digital “marquee” like we now have on buses and trolleys to indicate their destination as well as a rear marquee to be read by the driver behind us.  

 

 Since we live in a high tech, digital world one might expect to be able to speak our apology or grievance and our car computer would flash this on the rear marquee for example: “Sorry, I did not see you.” In our front marquee we might display:  “Please use your directional when turning.” (Which would have to be displayed backwards.  That’s why we need a computer.)

Note:  After some serious consideration, I thought that only “canned” selections should be available.  I’m not sure we want everything that we might say being conveyed to our intended (or unintended) recipients. 
 

As drivers we have all negotiated a traffic circle, roundabout or rotary and most know that one should yield to the traffic in the circle.  Many four-letter words have been screamed at offenders who have executed a “failure to yield.”  When we’re on the highway and someone cuts us off, we might yell and speed up to get close to the offending driver.  However, a simple but firm front display of:  “Please be more careful, you just cut me off,” would suffice. 

Just last week I could have used my digital marquee idea when the driver in front apparently took offense to some thing I did (that was unbeknownst to me.) The woman in front of me pulled over abruptly and was holding up the universal hand signal that means “I’m very angry with you right now.”  I was clueless as to  what I might had done.  Was it pulling over for the fire engine or entering back into traffic?  Was I not maintaining the appropriate “4 car lengths” behind rule?  Did she simply not like the “cut of my jib," as Tony Soprano once said to Dr. Melfie? If only she could have sent me a message (from her rear display): “I’m uncomfortable with your proximity to my vehicle.” Then I could have flashed her a message of apology like: “Sorry but I’m unaware of any wrongdoing” or maybe a gentle reminder to her: “Please maintain at least the minimum speed limit.” After I pulled into my destination the woman kept flashing her lights, laid on her horn and gave me an offensive hand signal. Though perhaps too little, too late, my message would have been “Serenity Now!”

 

If the aggrieved driver ahead decides to get out their vehicle and approach your car, you quickly flash them the “Please get back in your vehicle” message on your front display and as you are driving away, flash the message: “Have a nice Day!” 

Drive with courtesy,
Steve E. Reno