Are We Wired to Drive in City Traffic?
Someone once said, “In the land of the free it’s my right to have an open lane in front of me at all times, and Lord help the person who transgresses.” This sentiment seems to say, That's my roadway and I was just about to use it. Or to paraphrase the middle school send-up of the Pete Seeger classic, “This is my lane and only my lane.” Maybe you have a family member or a loved one who drives a bit too fast, trail gates any and every vehicle in front of him, or is always jockeying for the fastest lane, only to swear, bang the steering wheel and roughly switch out of the lane when it slows. Sound familiar? It should. At one time or another it sounds like almost any of us. Where does all of this frustration come from when we drive? Why are our emotions so primed and at the explosive as soon as we get behind the wheel? We know that our trip will take longer than we expect. We know that we will be affected by someone else's bad or slow decision-making skills. So what gives? ...