We live in a world where we have to get from place A to B as quickly as possible and we each have our favourite mode of transport to do it with. Out of them all, train, car and plane, cycling is the cheapest and fittest way to travel.
It takes a brave soul to get on a saddle and engage with the busy and congested roads of London on a daily basis. Alas it also appears to be the most dangerous, with the tragic death of the 6th cyclist in the last few months, and the 14th this year.
London is in shock
London has never been so congested. The morning rush ‘hour’ starts at about 5.30am on major roads and lasts for up to three hours. In some parts of London, journey times are so slow, traffic moves at around one mile per hour. No wonder people are choosing to cycle in more and more numbers.
Health officials and the London Major’s office will find a way to improve the roads for both cyclist and motorist. The recent tragic deaths can only be truly honoured with a legacy of a smart London road system which ensures nobody dies on it’s roads.
As always with facing such drastic measures, the debate between cyclists and motorists has once again erupted. Sadly both the cyclists and motorists are missing the most tragic point; it isn’t their riding or driving ability thats the danger on the roads, it’s their anger level once they sit on the saddle or behind the wheel. The danger on the roads isn’t our riding or driving ability, its our anger.
Our anger is key to it all
Mike Fisher from the British Association of Anger Management (BAAM), is Europe’s guru in Anger Management and knows road rage is accumulative.
“Road rage doesn’t erupt when one driver cuts you up on the road. It happened a few days before in an argument you may have had with your wife, your kids or your boss.”
“We use the opportunity when someone cuts us up to vent”, says Mike Fisher who encourages us to communicate our feelings when we feel a feeling is about to become aggressive.
Perhaps we must all stop shaking our fists and slamming the car bonnet, and calmly say “I feel angry with you because you cut me up and I need you to be more considerate my space please!”
“Remember”, Mike would remind us, “its very important to recognise road rage is accumulative. It doesn’t start when you get in a car and someone cuts you up, it started weeks or days or hours before and its been building until you find an opportunity to let it rip.”
Anger is the key; deal with the anger in ourselves and we deal with road rage.
The sad truth is that loved ones are losing their lives to anger on the Killing Fields of our roads.
If you have problems with your anger and rage, please get in touch with Mike Fisher and his team at BAAM on 0345 1300 286. They are ready to take your call and help you through what you are going through. Anger doesn’t have to control you, you can control anger and use it in ways you could never imagine. Give Mike Fisher and his team a call on 0345 1300 286.
