ROAD RAGE is becoming one of the greatest problems of the '90s.

There can't be many drivers who haven't had some experience of this strain of madness which is becoming an increasingly worrying problem, creating unnecessary stress in millions of people.

Lancashire has not escaped the problem. Local roads are brimming with hot blood, strong words and the gnashing of teeth. Even the most placid people can turn into monsters behind the wheel of a car. Headlight flashing, tailgating, rude gestures and verbal abuse are the most common tactics of the furious motorist. What is it that provokes so many angry looks and flaring tempers -problems at home, stress at work, the shame of being overtaken by an inferior car, a need to test vocal chords?

Stress consultant Dr David Lewis defines road rage as "that point when a motorist loses control of his or her behaviour - when they actually do go, for a short time, completely mad."

Being in a car somehow allows people to act in a way they would not normally behave. The car acts as armour, shielding the driver from direct confrontation, which is why if a fellow motorist invades your personal car space (about five feet around your vehicle) he can expect dark looks and unpleasant language. Stress probably kills as many drivers as accidents, according to Dr Malcolm Carruthers. Tensions on the road release blood noradrenaline, a hormone which raises the heart rate and blood pressure and sets free blood fats, making drivers competitive. Almost 90 per cent of motorists experience hostility on the roads and 60 per cent admit being aggressors, an AA survey found. Males are still dominant on the roads and in nine out of 10 cases, where priority is paramount, the woman will yield and the man will forge ahead. In today's climate, with more road rage incidents and highly-publicised attacks on females in car parks, women are becoming prisoners in their own cars, a Norwich Union survey revealed. This fear is manifested in the fact that 14 per cent of women motorists would contemplate carrying a crowbar or blunt instrument to protect themselves, with three per cent opting for a knife. And 92 per cent would use the protection if attacked, revealed a survey commissioned by Cowie.

At night over a quarter of women will not drive alone on motorways or country roads. If they broke down on a motorway at night, 50 per cent would stay locked in the car on the hard shoulder despite the danger of being hit by traffic. Lancashire Constabulary is helping in the fight against road rage and women's safety by holding workshops and producing leaflets containing vital safety tips.

Inspector Peter Stas from the accident prevention office at police headquarters, said: "Aggressive drivers have always been around but the tag 'road rage' has highlighted the problem more. Isolated incidents are reported when it leads to criminal damage or assault but we may not hear of minor incidents. People should be calm before driving.

"Women feel vulnerable on roads, especially at night. The fear of crime and road rage among women is much higher than that among men."

For more details of leaflets and safety workshops contact the crime prevention office on 01254 51212. A personal attack alarm, costing £3.99, can be obtained by sending your name, address and telephone number to The Lancashire Partnership Against Crime, Lancashire Constabulary, Headquarters, PO Box 77, Hutton, Preston, PR4 5SB.

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