Dr. Andrew Mohanraj

What is your opinion towards road bullies?

Road bullies take pleasure in deliberately humiliating or depriving other road users. They usually get what they want and this becomes a distinctive pattern that continuously feeds into their ego. They also learn to be discriminative in choosing their victims, often choosing smaller cars or more whom they perceive to be more vulnerable drivers like senior citizens or female drivers.

It must be noted that not all road bullies exhibit overtly violent behavior or road rage. Hogging the right lane to prevent others from overtaking or deliberately blocking a parking space can also be part of bullying. Those without aggressive tendencies may have narcissist traits where they feel they have a sense of entitlement over others. They gloat over their ability to humiliate others and have no remorse afterwards.

Those with aggressive tendencies may suffer from Intermittent Explosive Disorder and they may not be the typical road bully gloating over victimizing the weak but the sort whose anger is triggered off easily at anybody. They usually regret their actions afterwards.

Why do these people behave in such manner?

People are not born bullies. They learn this behavior when they are young as children. Children who do not have normal developmental skills – without playing together or solving problems together with age mates tend to have a greater propensity to become bullies.  An environment that condones bullying as “part of growing up “also indirectly contributes to encouraging the potential bully. Such children grow up and may develop into a more subtle bully choosing his victims carefully.

Bullying could also manifestation of psychiatric and personality problems and such people could benefit from treatment.

Mainly what triggers such behaviour?

What is perceived to be defiance or lack of respect shown by other road users can trigger aggressive behavior by road bullies.  When a road bully is identified, it is better to avoid eye contact or honk repeatedly at them. It is belter to let them have their way on the road. It is good to remember that it is not worth taking the risk to provoke such a person on the road.

 

 Do these people suffer any form of mental illness?

A number of psychiatric illness can have bullying as its manifestation of feature. Some drivers with narcissistic personality disorders have an expectation of superior entitlement expecting others to defer to them on the road. When they do not get the respect from other drivers they tend to bully them. For example such people will expect other drivers to give way to their “superior” vehicle that displays their “importance”. Many like these would often be seen tailgating other drivers and forcing them to give way.

 

There are others who show ‘disproportionate behaviors’ in relation to the situation on hand. They might get abusive or violent against other drivers because they can irritated or upset against something that is very trivial. For example, they might believe that the threat by the other person hooting at them is purposeful and personal.   Such people could be suffering from Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)

 

Another common reason for aggressive behavior in the road is the widespread use of amphetamine among drivers particularly those driving large commercial vehicles like transport Lorries and buses. The use of amphetamine among party revelers or clubbers gives rise to paranoia and suspicious thoughts against other road users resulting in unwarranted aggressive driving and behavior towards other unsuspecting road users. Many road traffic accidents are as a result of amphetamine use. The authorities are fully aware of this but little has been done so far with regards to screening for drugs particularly among transport vehicle drivers.

Does these people need help and should the court summon them for rehabilitation or counseling?

Those who are drive recklessly or display aggressive behavior as a result of drug use should bear the full consequences of their irresponsible actions. The law must come down heavily on them. In addition they may need to undergo medical treatment if they are addicted to any illicit substance. Those with Intermittent Explosive Disorder could benefit from anger management and counselling .However, those with narcissistic personality disorders have only moderate outcomes in their treatment because of deeply ingrained feelings of entitlement and superiority.

 

Dato’ Dr Andrew Mohanraj
Consultant Psychiatrist & Deputy President, Malaysian Mental Health Association