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Nissan's Campaign Seeks Reduced Stress, Violence On U.S. Roadways

20 November 1998

Nissan's 'Road Rage' Awareness Campaign Seeks Reduced Stress, Violence On U.S. Roadways

          Noted Anger-Management Expert Provides Research for Effort
             to Help Americans Arrive Alive During Holiday Season

    CARSON, Calif., Nov. 19 -- In an effort to help American
drivers understand and reduce driving anger that leads to "road rage," Nissan
North America has partnered with a highly respected psychologist to launch a
national public information campaign -- "Gauge Your Rage."
    As Thanksgiving kicks off the year-end holiday season, America's roads
fill with three times their normal volume, and the likelihood of road rage
increases. This nationwide campaign is aimed at reducing this growing societal
phenomenon that has claimed thousands of lives.
    Dr. Jerry Deffenbacher, a psychologist and professor at Colorado State
University, has been researching and studying anger management and aggressive
driving since the early 1980s.  "Gauge Your Rage" consists of two primary
elements designed by Dr. Deffenbacher and Nissan:

    * a 14-question multiple choice quiz designed to help people determine how
anger influences individual perception, judgment and behavior while driving;
    * tips that provide techniques to help people avoid confrontations and
manage their own anger.

    The "Gauge Your Rage" quiz and tip sheet are based on years of research
conducted by Deffenbacher.  The quiz and a quick reference guide are available
free by calling 1-800-782-8678 or by downloading them from Nissan's Web site:
http://www.nissan-na.com.
    "Knowing what triggers anger is paramount to managing it," Deffenbacher
said.  "Today's societal pressures, increased road congestion and busy
schedules have led to significant increases in aggressive driving.  What
Nissan and I have provided will help people deal with anger and, we hope,
decrease these incidents."
    The "Gauge Your Rage" program was unveiled during the holidays because
many more people are on the roads hurrying to reach their destinations.
However, Deffenbacher and Nissan emphasize that "road rage" is not strictly a
holiday problem.
    Among the tips provided to help avoid conflict and manage individual anger
are relaxation techniques, as well as ways to avoid an aggravating situation.
For example, if construction detours are a source of annoyance, Deffenbacher
and Nissan recommend taking an alternative route or changing travel time to
avoid delays -- and potential anger.
    "Being aware of road rage and its dangers year round is vitally
important," said Jason Vines,  Nissan North America's vice president of
corporate communications.  "This awareness takes on increased importance from
Thanksgiving to the end of the year because three times more people are on the
road."
    "With more than 15 million Nissan vehicles on the road, we've always
placed a high priority on the safety of our vehicles," Vines said.  "Our road
rage public information campaign is a natural extension of Nissan's commitment
to safety -- not only for Nissan drivers but for all drivers."
    Deffenbacher pointed out that, despite the fact that high-anger drivers
are more likely to engage in reckless driving, something can be done to
mitigate the effects of this.
    "Our studies show that high-anger drivers can learn to lower their anger,"
Deffenbacher said.  "Nissan and I believe that you can help yourself by taking
our quiz and studying the road rage survival tips."
    "Nissan's safety experts and I agree that avoiding a confrontation is
simple: Treat every instance of road conflict like a dangerous situation,"
Deffenbacher said.  "Cool heads must prevail.  Do not provoke someone by
flashing your lights or honking your horn.  Let the aggressor have the road
and you and your family will automatically win."
    Nissan has invested more than $2 billion in the United States to establish
facilities for its design, research and development, manufacturing, sales,
consumer and corporate financing, and marketing operations.  Nearly seventy
percent of the Nissan trucks and cars sold in America are built in America.
Last year, Nissan purchased nearly $4 billion in parts and materials from
U.S.-based suppliers.
    Nissan employs more than 70,000 Americans, approximately 12,000 directly
and 58,000 at 1,250 Nissan and Infiniti retailers nationwide.  More
information about Nissan North America, Inc. and the complete line of Nissan
and Infiniti vehicles can be found on-line at http://www.nissan-na.com.