開車有時會讓人緊張，尤其是遇到蠻不講理、不守規則的司機時，可能會讓人情緒失控，甚至大發雷霆。強行超車、跟車過近、言語粗魯……你遇到過魯莽的駕駛行為嗎？造成司機之間大動肝火的主要原因有哪些？聽 “隨身英語” 節目討論 “路怒癥”。

詞匯：road rage 路怒

We all know driving can be stressful. One minute you’re minding your own business and the next someone cuts you up. Manoeuvres like that can be annoying and irritating, but for some of us, it can make us incandescent with rage. So what is road rage, and what things can cause it?

Road rage, simply put, is a sudden burst of anger that motorists experience when they feel angered by something another driver, cyclist or pedestrian has done. Road rage can manifest itself in several ways, including verbal or physical threats, insults, and even dangerous driving. The drivers themselves may feel anxiety and stress, which can cause them to speed or swerve across the road. Experts like Leon James, a professor of traffic psychology at the University of Hawaii, US, warn that experiencing these moments, especially repeatedly, could be harmful to our health due to the number of stress hormones entering our bodies.

So, what can cause us to experience road rage? Being tailgated, undertaken on a busy motorway, seeing someone swooping across several lanes, chatting on their phone, or hogging the middle lane in front of us are just some of the things that may stress us. And what about parking? Someone stealing the space we wanted at the last second could tip us over the edge! Being aware of what can trigger these feelings of rage may be key to controlling it.

So what can we do to keep relaxed? Try driving in a good mood, and if you see a traffic jam, just remember that they can’t be avoided. And try leaving a little earlier in future. Also, if you see someone who is really angry, try not to maintain eye contact, and don’t get out of the car to confront them. And if you feel stressed and anxious, try pulling over somewhere and resting while you calm down.

So the next time you feel stressed while driving, just remember road rage can happen to anyone – and relaxing a bit when you feel that way may not just make it safer for you, but for others too.

詞匯表

cut someone up 超車搶到某人前面
manoeuvre 開車動作
incandescent with rage 大發雷霆，怒不可遏
motorist 開車的人，司機
manifest 顯現
dangerous driving 危險駕駛
speed （開車）超速
swerve （開車）急轉彎
tailgate 緊隨（前車）行駛，跟車太近
undertake 強行超車
motorway 高速公路
swoop 猛地開過
lane 車道
hogging 占路
parking 停車，駐車
space 車位
tip someone over the edge 把某人逼瘋
trigger 觸發，誘發
traffic jam 交通堵塞
confront 與…當面對質
pull over 停車

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What is road rage?

2. How can road rage manifest itself?

3. Why can road rage be harmful to our bodies?

4. What can cause road rage?

5. What can we do to avoid road rage?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. One more question and it might tip her _______ the edge.

over                       up                               on                          off

2. Reduce your speed and stop _______ the car in front.

hogging                  incandescent             tailgating                swerving

3. He was cautioned for _______ on the road.

speeding                motorist                      motorway               space

4. Oh, no! There’s a traffic _______. I’ll never get to work on time now!

plan                        ham                            spam                      jam

5. Stop _______ the middle lane if you’re going to drive that slowly!

lane                        speeding                    hogging                  swooping

答案

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What is road rage?
Road rage, simply put, is a sudden burst of anger that motorists experience when they feel angered by something another driver, cyclist or pedestrian has done.

2. How can road rage manifest itself?
Road rage can manifest itself in several ways, including verbal or physical threats, insults, and even dangerous driving.

3. Why can road rage be harmful to our bodies?
Experiencing these stressful moments, especially repeatedly, could be harmful to our health due to the number of stress hormones entering our bodies.

4. What can cause road rage?
Being tailgated, undertaken on a busy motorway, seeing someone swooping across several lanes, chatting on their phone, or hogging the middle lane in front of us are just some of the things that may stress us.

5. What can we do to avoid road rage?
There are several things we can do involving remembering problems are inevitable, relaxing when we feel stressed and avoiding conflict.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. One more question and it might tip her over the edge.

2. Reduce your speed and stop tailgating the car in front.

3. He was cautioned for speeding on the road.

4. Oh, no! There’s a traffic jam. I’ll never get to work on time now!

5. Stop hogging the middle lane if you’re going to drive that slowly!