Don't be crazy like him

How many times have we faced a situation on the road that sparked our anger? A driver overtakes us dangerously, another cuts in front of us without warning, and a third tailgates us, as if demanding we clear the way for him, regardless of the circumstances! In such moments, we may feel enraged, and our pride may push us to retaliate in kind, chase him down, or stop to confront him, as if we are in a battle we must win. But have we ever paused to consider the price we might pay for this illusory victory? Not every mistake deserves a response, and not every provocation warrants confrontation. We do not know who is driving the other car; they might be a reckless individual unaware of the consequences of their actions, someone under the influence who does not realize what they are doing, or a person going through a psychological crisis or harsh circumstances that have caused them to lose control of their temper. Or they may simply be someone who disrespects the law and the lives of others. In all these cases, what would we gain by engaging in a confrontation? Would they become more compliant with traffic rules? Would they apologize for their mistake? Or might we turn a fleeting traffic violation into a tragic accident, a fight, or an assault with dire consequences? More importantly, the street is not a place to settle scores. Does a person we may never see again deserve for us to risk our lives and the lives of those we love? Many of us might view ignoring a provocation from a reckless driver as weakness and a diminishment of our dignity. It is not necessary to prove to others that we are right, nor to punish the reckless driver ourselves; there are laws and competent authorities responsible for holding violators accountable. Our primary responsibility here is to protect ourselves and those with us. Self-control in such situations is never weakness; rather, it is the ability to make the right decision in a moment when we might lose control of our emotions. How should we deal with a reckless driver who overtakes us dangerously? Should we give them space? It is not necessary to prove to others that we are right, nor to punish them ourselves for their mistake; there are laws and competent authorities responsible for holding violators accountable. Our primary responsibility is to protect ourselves and those with us, and to maintain a safe distance. If they try to provoke us by honking or using hostile signals, we should not retaliate in kind. We must also remember that the street brings together people with different temperaments, morals, circumstances, and abilities to control their tempers. We cannot expect everyone to act with the same wisdom we hope to demonstrate. Therefore, we should not seek revenge using our vehicle, whether by sudden braking, squeezing the other driver, or chasing them; because in that moment, we may transform from victims of someone else’s mistake into parties in danger, potentially harming innocent people who have no connection to the incident. I reiterate here that ignoring provocation does not mean ignoring danger. There is a significant difference between overlooking a provocative act to ensure our safety and remaining silent about behavior that poses a real threat to the lives of others. Reporting violations to the competent authorities in the Ministry of Interior is a responsible act, whereas personal confrontation is not our responsibility; because safe driving means not only adhering to traffic rules but also knowing how to handle others’ mistakes without allowing them to control our decisions. A very important point is to think about who is waiting for us at home. Let not a fleeting moment of anger deprive us of years of our lives and grant a stranger the power to decide our fate. We may have the right on the street, but that never means risking our lives to prove our point. Quick questions we should ask ourselves: What will I gain if I retaliate? What can I lose? It is very likely that we will gain nothing from responding, but we may lose everything. Our victory on the street, amidst all the reckless drivers and violators, is not about retaliating against those who provoke us, but about reaching our families and loved ones safely. Iqbal Al-Ahmad