Road rage is an aggressive behaviour that drivers exhibit sometimes while in transit. It may include verbal insults, yelling, rudeness, physical threats or driving tactics meant to intimidate other road users or release frustration. This tactics include honking aggressively, sudden lane changes, chasing, blocking other cars, speeding, overlapping and issuing rude gestures.

The action however may cause assaults and altercations, damage to property as well as injuries that may even result to death. They may also result to legal consequences, increased stress and anxiety among others.

One popular Kenyan personality who was prone to such a behaviour is the legendary musician Eric Wainaina.

While speaking to Jackie Nyaminde on her Netwalking show, Eric narrated an incident that forced him to stay calm and stop getting into altercations with other drivers on the road.

“I used to have road rage, but I was saved one day. The bypass was still under construction at the time.  I’m coming from the airport sides to  the exit for Ngong Road, there is a factory around there, one truck comes from there without stopping, and it enters the highway, the driver just joined the highway without checking,” he recalled.

The sudden entrance of the truck saw Wainaina step on the breaks as he shouted at the truck driver. The truck driver, on the other hand, wasn’t going to have any of Eric’s ‘tantrums’.

“That guy came out of the truck, as he went for his belt. I thought he was going to flog me. He then asked me, ‘Do you want to f*ck me?”,” Wainaina said, expressing the shock that he was left with.

He vowed to never quarrel anyone on the road, no matter how unfairly he is treated.

“Sorry! I was saved,” he went on. “I will never again scream at anybody. That guy looked very serious.”

Kenya, especially Nairobi is no stranger to road rage, with one of the incidents that caught the public’s attention being that of DJ Joe Mfalme that resulted to the death of a senior police officer last year.

Avoiding aggressive driving: Kenyan drivers should refrain from making sudden lane changes, speeding and tailgating. They should give signals when they want to turn and also leave room for other drivers.

Early planning: Rushing is one of the causes of road rage, as one will fail to consider fellow drivers.

Being polite on the road and avoid engaging aggressive drivers.

Practicing defensive driving, taking breaks amid long drives among others.