Opinion: We all need to calm down on the road

Risk-taking behaviours on our roads are seemingly becoming commonplace and it’s resulting in the ultimate price – lost lives.

There’s an endemic issue plaguing Australian roads. As we all hyper focus-in on our own needs and schedules, an air of urgency and discourteous behaviour is playing out on road networks across the country and it’s coinciding with an increase in Australian lives being lost.

After decades of improvement that made Australia a safer place to travel by car – as well as gigantic leaps forward in car safety technologies – Australian road fatalities are up by 6.3 per cent to the end of November 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.

Within my home state, lives lost on Victorian roads total 283 to date in 2023, some 22 per cent up compared to last year’s records.

That we’re even going backwards at all is shocking, but by such a margin is truly scary.

I’ve been trying to think of why that’s the case. In 2023 our cars are the safest they’ve ever been, our roads are more prepared, we’re a country of sensible speed limits – what gives?

Of course, there are bound to be myriad factors involved, but I genuinely think there are too many drivers on our roads today that have let impatience take over rational thought, and we’re making mistakes because of it.

You see, I’ve been spending an awful lot more time on the roads over the past year as a result of moving further away from Melbourne, and I’ve never seen as many accidents, near misses, blatant distraction, simple mindedness, and just plain arrogant driving.

It’s noticeable on a daily basis on the way to work: drivers up the rear end of the car ahead, motorists swerving in and out of traffic in search of prime position, the ignorance of other cars trying to merge lanes, and those shooting along at speeds above the posted limit.

And I’ve noticed it in myself too, where I’ve generally been more focused on getting places quicker so I can spend more time doing the things I want at my destination. It’s a bad habit to fall into and I’ve come to realise I need to simply let it go.

Stop hurrying in traffic, start letting other people in front of you, don’t get so worked-up at roadworks and slow drivers ahead – they’re all simple ways to avoid danger, but we’re seeing increasing instances of these risk-taking behaviours every time we get on the roads. Is it just me that’s noticing these impatient driving practices?

Especially as we’re coming into the holiday season when minds are elsewhere and we’ve got cars loaded with loved ones and luggage, it’s more important than ever to remain cool, calm and collected behind the wheel.

It’s far less stressful to simply accept you’ll arrive at your destination later than expected, and you’ll likely feel more relaxed once you’re there too. Or, the alternative, to leave sooner than you normally would. If it so happens that you arrive early and this leaves spare time once at your destination, all the better. Use it to prepare for what you’re doing next.

But what we’ve got now is becoming untenable. We simply can’t carry on being fixated on our own immediate driving, without giving due consideration to how it impacts the cars around us.

It’s simply not worth it – to try and shave minutes from your ETA – at the expense of driving erratically, or even dangerously.

As we’re seeing now, the consequences of increased speed, inattention, and arrogant driving can result in the ultimate price – lives lost on our roads.

Your turn. What are some of the worst examples of driving you’ve seen on our roads recently? Let us know in the comments below.

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