Critical Thinking and Society

With an ever-increasing population, some cities are experiencing the traffic congestion plaguing roads and highways. The rapid pace lifestyle of people commuting to and from work, school, and any other activities, creates a dangerous potential for commuters who are anxious to get to their destination on time. Road rage is becoming a common occurrence in some of our major cities. Los Angeles, for example, is home to hundreds of major freeways linking inner cities with suburbs. With a county population of more than nine million people (U.S Census Bureau, 2011) some drivers, specifically aggressive drivers, pose a threat to the safety of other people sharing the roadways. I have experienced these same feelings when driving. In one instance, aggressive behavior such as tailgating, cutting off, sudden braking, etc. was something that has been done to me and vice versa. Trying to pinpoint where the fault originated is not as important in regards to how these road rage situations could have been avoided in the first place. A critical thinker should anticipate busy roads and plan accordingly. Most often poor planning and last minute rushing out the door is the beginning of the frustration that we face when driving. It seems to be that everyone else is taking his or her time while you are trying to get somewhere fast. It is imperative that you give yourself plenty of time to get ready and travel the distance you intend to commute. In the event that an unforeseen traffic jam occurs, have a backup plan ready to use. Speeding is dangerous and not an alternative for making up time. Accept that you may be late and make notifications (employer, family, etc.) as soon as possible. Aggressive driving and road rage may have gotten us to our destination on time this time around, but what if next time tragedy erupts in a similar situation? Is your life or someone else’s life worth dying for? Critical and creative thinkers will calculate the risks and benefits of thinking rationally and...