Liz Dobson: Road rage is such a waste of space

Photo / File

It's the season for normal sedate drivers to lose their rag and become absolute maniacs on our roads.

You can blame it on crowded mall carparks or the stress of getting all your work done before the Christmas break, but, whatever the reasons, December is a hazardous month on our roads.

The other evening, as I left a large shopping centre, I witnessed an impatient motorist at a traffic light mount a kerb, drive on the footpath - narrowly missing pedestrians - and speed through an orange arrow ... only to be stopped at the next set of lights.

I've lost count of motorists who, without indicating, attempt to push into queues. Yeah, like the rest of us are idling in our car for fun.

Gull petrol station has created a Road Rage Reducer, a device you can place on your dash and hit whenever you feel angry.

When pressed, it says such comments as "muppet, muppet, muppet", "who taught you to drive, Stevie Wonder?" and "I've seen dogs that can drive better than you".

The press release that accompanied the device said it was made to "lighten the mood in those tense situations".

"As traffic and stress hit highs in the lead up to Christmas, this is just what you need to release the rage and turn it into a giggle," the press release said.

But during the test drive around the Driven office this week, the consensus was that the comments from the Road Rage Reducer would only inflame an angry driver.

Maybe to reduce your road rage you can instead visualise your summer holiday, with the Automobile Association giving us some tips on page nine on how to prepare your vehicle for your annual Christmas break.

Hints include checking your tyres (including your spare) before you head off, checking the condition of your windscreen - and a reminder not to overload your car or your trailer.