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Reading 3 min.
in collaboration with
Amélie Boukhobza (Clinical psychologist)
In Paris, a 27-year-old cyclist lost his life, run over by a 52-year-old motorist. If the facts are chilling, how can we explain this “tipping point”, where anger turns into violence? Our expert’s answer.
This Tuesday, a 27-year-old cyclist was killed by a motorist on Boulevard Malesherbes in Paris. The driver lost his cool and hit, according to witnesses,voluntarily” the young man. If the facts are confirmed, how can we explain such an act of violence on the road? Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, gives us some answers.
The 52-year-old man allegedly ran over the cyclist
The events took place on Tuesday October 15, shortly before 6 p.m. While a 27-year-old cyclist was on Boulevard Malesherbes on “a cycle path not separated from the rest of the road“, specifies our colleagues from BFMhe crosses paths with a 52-year-old man.
The latter, who was taking his 16-year-old daughter to a medical appointment, had wanted to save time by taking the cycle lane. But things don’t go as planned. The man causes the cyclist to fall and crushes his foot. The cyclist then loses his temper and hits the hood of the car. It was at this precise moment that the motorist backed up and ran over the young man.
“My client, who was with his daughter on board, immediately got out of the car to help the cyclist when he realized what had just happened, and tried to resuscitate him. He would never have intentionally driven over someone“, confides the driver’s lawyer, at the microphone of BFM.
A version of the facts, which is different from that of the witnesses, who claimed to have perceived “une voluntary attitude of the driver when moving the car towards the cyclist”. If at present, a murder investigation “was opened” according to Paris newsthe motorist, must be interviewed again today by the police.
A “rise in violence” on the road
Faced with this chilling news item, Pierre Lagache, vice-president of the League Against Road Violence, gets annoyed.
“The road is often a reflection of society at its worst.“, he lamented at the microphone of Franceinfothe day after the cyclist’s death. “Once again, it is a man who is involved in the factshe noted. In terms of accidents, in more than 80% of cases, we have deviant behaviors that are of the masculine gender.“.
The Paris police chief pointed out a “rise in violence“on the road,”sometimes for reasons that are extremely futile“.
But how can we explain such aggressiveness on the road, often resulting from simple disagreements? What does it say about our society? And how to regain your senses while driving? Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, enlightens us.
Good in his body, good in his head!
Prevent anger from getting out of control
According to our expert, anger can quickly turn into an act of violence if it is not controlled in time. Indeed, when a person finds themselves in a stressful situation, as is often the case while driving, frustration can amplify this anger and overwhelm judgment.
“We are talking about road violence more and more. Between the horns, the insults, the inappropriate gestures, the hit-and-runs… It’s more and more complicated to take the road! When does anger cross the line? It often starts with a small annoyance, an unexpected event on the road and in a few seconds, we feel overcome by anger. The danger? When this anger goes beyond a limit and becomes totally uncontrollable. In short, when we no longer get angry just at a behavior but at the person themselves. This is where things go wrong. We move from simple frustration to aggression, sometimes physical, most often verbal.“.
On the road, how can you reduce the pressure?
Faced with the increase in verbal and physical attacks on the road, Amélie Boukhobza recommends taking “awareness of one’s state“.
- “If you feel anger building, start by breathing. Giving yourself a few seconds can make all the difference. Even if it’s not obvious!
- Then, “zoom out” the situation. Most of the time it’s not personal. This driver isn’t mad at you, he’s just in a hurry or distracted. Or upset about something else.
- Finally, keep in mind that the road is for everyone, and it is not a battlefield.
- Get your priorities in order. And ask yourself if it’s really worth putting yourself in these states for so little…!”, she emphasizes in conclusion.
Slide: How to manage your anger? 10 things to do to calm down (before you break down…)