Remaining Human Behind the Wheel: Empathy in Traffic

Roads are not just transport channels made of concrete and asphalt they are a huge social platform where millions of different stories, emotions, and characters intersect every day. For this platform to function safely, we need a human bond as much as technical rules: Empathy. Everyone from the driver at the wheel to the pedestrian crossing the street, from the cyclist in the emergency lane to the courier trying to deliver a package, is a part of this system. In the Safe System approach, human error is accepted as inevitable however, the strongest shield to prevent these errors from turning into a traffic crash is the understanding we have for each other. 

1. Empathy: Looking at the Road from Someone Else's Perspective

Empathy, in its simplest definition, is the ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes. In traffic, this is not just about "being kind" it is a proactive safety measure. For example, did a driver suddenly cut you off? Or did they move a second late when the green light turned on? Instead of getting angry immediately, consider these possibilities: Maybe there is a child being rushed to the hospital in the vehicle, maybe the driver lost their way and is experiencing great stress at that moment, or maybe they just got distracted for a second. Trying to understand the other person's mood or necessity at that moment also lowers your pulse and turns the situation from a crisis into a manageable moment.

2. Reacting or Staying Safe?

Responding with the same harshness to someone who squeezes you or acts aggressively is not a struggle for "seeking rights" it is an invitation to disaster. A momentary burst of anger in traffic can lead to assault, injury, and even irreversible legal consequences.

3. Common Traffic Communication Errors

Since we cannot talk to each other in traffic, we communicate through the vehicles we use. However, this communication language can sometimes be quite "noisy" and aggressive:

The biggest communication error on the roads is not sharing your intention. 

4. What Should You Do When You Encounter an Aggressive Driver?

You will always encounter people in traffic who are not as calm as you. In these cases, following these steps saves lives:

• Avoid Eye Contact: Aggressive drivers usually expect a reaction. Not establishing eye contact can prevent a fight from starting.

• Give Way and Move Away: Even if you are right, let the aggressive driver pass. Leaving a safe distance is the most professional driver behavior.

• Focus on Your Own Safety: Lock your vehicle doors and focus on the road.

• Report the Situation: If the threat continues, pull over to a safe place and call 112 to report the vehicle license plate and location.

5. In Car Camera: A Silent and Neutral Witness

In car camera systems are of critical importance today for everyone from professional fleets implementing ISO 39001 standards to individual users. The camera is objective evidence that ends the "who is right" debate at the time of a crash or disagreement. In addition, it is a scientific fact that drivers who know there is a camera control their own behavior better and exhibit more empathetic driving.

Closing

Traffic is not an obstacle we have to endure, but a living space where we must move safely together. When we get behind the wheel, we manage not just a machine but the peace of society and the safety of people's lives. Giving way to someone today is planting the seeds of someone who will stop for you tomorrow.

Brake Your Anger, Move Forward with Empathy.

References:

• WHO (World Health Organization) Global Status Report on Road Safety

• GRSP (Global Road Safety Partnership) Driver Behavior Guide

• T.C. Road Traffic Law and Regulation

• ISO 39001 Road Traffic Safety Management System Standards