I came across an interesting (and funny) video of a road rage incident involving a Yamaha NMAX rider and a Suzuki Address rider, filtering through a very congested thoroughfare.

In the footage, the latter is trying to pass the former, to no avail. Both ended up riding side by side, competing for space on the narrow bicycle lane (sincere apologies to cyclists). The situation probably irked the NMAX guy so he sarcastically asked the Address guy, “Nagmamadali ka?” (Are you in a hurry?). To which the seemingly preoccupied Address rider responded, “Huh?”

Probably emboldened by the other rider’s mild reaction and the anonymity afforded by his helmet, the NMAX guy then exclaimed, “Paliparin mo!” (Make your scooter fly, then!).  The Suzuki guy went berserk verbally at first. Then the NMAX rider took-off, or at least he tried to, chanting, “Wait lang, wait lang” (wait, wait). The footage ended with the Address rider catching up to the NMAX guy, who then got what was coming to him.

There’s no arguing that traffic congestion causes stress. And if I recall my Psych 101 correctly, stress triggers our fight or flight response. Both are instinctive and sometimes automatic, physiological reactions to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening. The perception of threat activates the nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to fight (Address guy) or flee (NMAX guy).

How do we avoid this?

Since we are all road users just trying to survive the chaos out there, let us be considerate and respectful to one another so as not to add to, if not lessen, the stress that everyone is already experiencing.  

If ever you find yourself faced with someone who is already in a fight response, be the one to take the high road and choose the flight response. Fighting fire with fire will just leave everything scorched.

Sure, it goes against our macho culture, but we should always remember why we took up motorcycle riding in the first place. We choose to be on the saddle because, despite the traffic, we have things to do and places to be. Life behind a handlebar is so much better than life behind bars.

Just ensure you do a better job of getting away from trouble than the NMAX guy.

Also, never underestimate someone who rides a Suzuki Address.