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Road Rage Now a Disease???

June 6th, 2006 by Mike

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USA Today, June 6, 2006: ‘Road rage’ disease affects as many as 16 million Americans, study says

So now, the idiot who’s tailgating you, honking his horn, flipping you off, and trying to run you off the road is off the hook for his own behavior. Intermittant Explosive Disorder (IED).¹

According to the article, 16 million people could suffer from this illness. Otherwise calm and placid individuals suddenly explode into a fits of rage when under stress. And what could be more stressful than driving?

The article says, “Dr. Emil Coccaro, chairman of psychiatry at the University of Chicago’s medical school said the disorder involves inadequate production or functioning of serotonin, a mood-regulating and behavior-inhibiting brain chemical. Treatment with antidepressants, including those that target serotonin receptors in the brain, is often helpful, along with behavior therapy akin to anger management.”

So now a driver with road rage can take a “chill pill” and some behavior modification and be treated. That means there’s a chemical portion to this “disease” and a choice portion. Imagine that, folks can choose to not fly into a rage when something disagrees with them. At least now there’s hope for some of these road ragers.

How many people that have displayed road rage actually have IED, do you think? Sure, some may have the disease, but I’m betting the vast majority of those displaying road rage are just openings at the end of the alimentary canal through which solid waste matter leaves the body.

- - - - - footnotes - - - - -

I thought an IED was an improvised explosive device or roadside bomb [↩]

8 Responses

bb writes:
June 7th, 200607:11at

I heard that and I thought man what a cop out for rude and bad behavior! Why can’t they just swear under their breath like I do.
Barry writes:
July 1st, 200618:33at

I just read about it today. I think I might have it… When I was a teen I lost my temper on several occasions and still have the potential. I’m not (usually) a road rager…unless some jerk nearly gets me killed by doing something stupid nearby. I alway thought it was simply that I have a temper. Big surprise, so does everybody! Most of us keep it under control…that’s called being civil. In no way should a diagnosis of this be an allowable excuse for losing in public, or on the public. Now, if you want to go home and tear the heavy bag apart…go for it.
Andy Jones writes:
April 11th, 200709:25at

Road ragers are full of the solid waste. They need about ten minutes with Grandma and a peach limb….
JO writes:
April 11th, 200713:13at

Why can’t people assume responsibility for their actions? Why must they always find someone or something else to blame?
Eric Johnson writes:
April 11th, 200715:25at

A disease, as defined, is simply any condition that causes discomfort, dysfunction, distress, social problems, and/or death. In a broader sense, includes injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated symptoms, deviant behaviors, and atypical variations of structure and function (Wikipedia). So, then, that I might like to beat my wife and/or sleep with a goat would simply be considered diseases too. My point is that calling it a disease excuses nothing. Alcoholism is also considered a disease, but that does not mean it’s okay or acceptable.
Lazlo writes:
April 11th, 200716:48at

Disease my butt, just an excuse to be stupid . STUPID!!!
xmann writes:
April 11th, 200720:38at

What a bunch of BS! This country is beginning to be or may already be the laughing stock of the world we have excuses for everything! The best way to deal with these idiots man or woman, when they throw their little baby tempers, is to let it go but find them later alone with no witnesses and whip their butt! It will end their road rage and actually you’re doing them a favor because the next person they flip off or try to run off the road might be no so nice. I had this problem once, I went to pass this guys on the hwy and he didn’t like it for some reason, I looked over and he was a cowboy/redneck type and he saw me and tried to run me inot the ditch on the other side. I slowed down and hung back for awhile cooling off and I followed him, found out where he worked and knocked him out the next day when no one was around. I’m not saying violence is the answer in this case it was though. This was when people didn’t have cell phones or I would have called the cops when he first tried to cause me to wreck – like that would help anyway.
sueellen writes:
April 12th, 200702:53at

we all have a friend that is very polite everywhere else EXCEPT thier car. as if no one is able to make them accountable for thier behaver, but thier feeling of anger and INTITTLEMENT , makes it a mental disorder ,not a disease. a 2 ton machine of absolute power over someone else that they CAN”t get anywhere else when seen. and even cops dont show up due to proof, not heresay evidence.cops only clean up the mess,never stop it from happening. they need mental help?