As life gets more and more hectic, we are likely to increase the time spent in our cars. Cars are already a second home to some, what with cars being extremely luxurious and comfortable. Besides being air-conditioned, they could have a high-quality music system, cell phone, fax and even a TV set.

Little wonder then that some time ago during a power-cut in Chandigarh, a whole family took to the car. The son drove, while the daughter, sitting in the front, listened to her favourite numbers. The father and mother — in the back seat — enjoyed the latest episode of The Bold and Beautiful on the TV, all in air-conditioned comfort! The family was at home in this mobile home.

It’s quite easy to understand why the car becomes a second home. We spend more and more time in the car and so tend to do more chores in the car.

The Canadian Safety Council found that drivers were eating, sipping soft drinks, and even reading in the car. The use of cell phone is, of course, quite common. Drivers even admitted to shaving, or putting on make up while driving.

All these tasks, if even done singly, will distract the driver from his original task: To drive safely and sensibly.

The Canadians refer to this as multi-tasking. It’s a word the Canadians use often in all spheres of life.

The Canadians also differentiate between road-rage and aggressive driving. Let’s see what is meant by aggressive driving.

One of the spin-offs of multi-tasking is that it peeves other drivers. It is a source of irritation. You say, "Look what that fool is doing!" This irritation will tend to make you an aggressive driver. The most common exhibition of aggressive driving is speeding.

A survey showed that 85 per cent of the drivers break the speed limit a couple of times every day. Says David Dehaas of the National Post, "If 85 per cent of us are doing it, one could conclude it as a social activity rather than an anti-social one."

It’s a thought. But at no times can breaking the law be considered a social activity. Speeding is illegal and therefore anti-social. Laws are made to protect society, to prevent anti-social activity. And a speed limit is enforced to safeguard and protect people from themselves.

This 85 per cent consider the remaining 15 per cent as anti-social elements and a pain in the asphalt. Drivers, complying with the speed limit may be subjected to verbal abuse, rude gestures. You will find aggressive drivers, flashing lights and blowing the horn frequently.

In India the most common exhibition of aggressive driving is while the cars are stationary: the sarkari Ambassador behind you wants an instant right of way. He informs you about this a micro-millisecond after the light turns green at a traffic junction. He does not wait, this anti-social element.

He is not aware that by driving in an orderly and patient manner, the traffic will flow easier and faster. It is easier on the car, the driver and every other road user.

Happy motoring!