Nearly one-hundred years ago two maneless male lions stalked and ate workers of the Kenya-Uganda railway near the Tsavo River in Kenya.

The lion pictured below consumed about 25 people, possibly killing even more depending on the accounts given at the time.  It’s partner in crime has been confirmed to have eaten about 11 people, also possibly stalking and slaughtering many more workers.

Recent studies conducted on the lions’ teeth and  isotopic signatures therein revealed some interesting clues to the aggressive man-eating behavior that the pair exhibited.

The truth about the teeth

The findings have revealed a possible explanation for the predation habits of the mane-less duo, namely the state of their teeth.
The teeth of the wild Tsavo lions were similar to those of captive lions. They exhibited grooves and wear consistent with animals that are regularly fed horse or beef meat slabs, and not with the subsequent wear that’s evident in the bone-crunching, hyde-tearing environment of the wild variety.

Why Humans?

Another observation made during the study noted that one of the lions had a deep abcess and decay that resulted in surrounding tooth loss as well as making constant draining of the wound a possibility.
It’s not uncommon to see lions (or other predators) with facial injuries resort to the taking of smaller prey when injured.
A severe drought in conjunction with a virus that killed off domestic and wild cattle left the large cats in the area searching for other meal options. Let’s face it – humans are easy prey. We have soft skin and easily accessible organs without much in the way of natural self defense.

What the hell does this have to do with road rage or motorcycles?

After Tsavo yet still nearly 100 years ago, mane-less hooligans were called out in a 1927 article by H.I. Phillips for their predatory behavior. In an article titled “On Which Side of the Windshield Do You Do Your Cussing?” Phillips neatly summarizes the road rage of the era. It is unsurprisingly similar to the sentiments of today’s population nearly a century later!

Phillips’ article points out the dubious transformations of the most mild mannered and exemplary citizens once they place their bodies behind the wheel of an automobile. This passage from the article sums up the atmosphere and attitudes of the newly “automated” society of 1920s America:

“One touch of Gasolene, possibly, makes the whole world spin.
Give a man a chassis, four tires, a soap box, and a horn, and he immediately wants to become the Vanishing American.
From that time on he believes in the survival of the fleetest. He has two mottoes. They are:
1. Fright makes right.
2. The other fellow is always wrong.”
– H.I. Phillips, The American Magazine, May 1927

It’s all about the “teeth”

The “teeth” of the road rage issue perhaps lies in the evolution of mankind around the inventions that have taken us so far away from our human animal roots.
Our brains are very complex and able to reason on many fathomless levels, yet, like the Tsavo lions, there exist biological needs that adaptation takes a little longer to rearrange.
Despite safer roads, advanced vehicle safety, upgraded medical and law enforcement practices, the human factor is the main reason why deaths and accidents remain steady and almost largely unchanged.
We are the biggest threat to ourselves.

Why motorcycles?

For many people, affordable housing means that they are commuting further and further to work. Urban centers might mean that even a short commute will still likely result in frustrating hours spent in an automobile each day. Perhaps commuters need to see a certain amount of order and courtesy to contrast the constant chaos of every day driving. Seeing a motorcycle zip and dash freely through lanes and “cut” through lines may anger some people. Let’s face it- as motorcyclists we’re a pretty “holier-than-thou” crowd since everyone is out to kill us. We are hyper-aware of our surroundings, and we always follow the rules- until we don’t.
Our attitude and perception of the way cagers treat us may very well be the instigating factor in the most common “road rage” incidents. Anecdotally, I’ve seen a ton of viral videos where a motorcyclist picks a fight with a driver because “you almost killed me!” etc. etc. The rider forgets to mention that they were appalled by the car changing lanes, dropped an annoying thirty-second rev bomb, and then pulled up next to the car to give them a choice piece of biker rhetoric. Of course they are going to try to kill you. You have now become the threat.

Lions and Drivers and Cages, oh my!

Just like the Tsavo lions deciding to take down a two-legged meal in a pair of pants rather than fight a half-ton cape buffalo with a thick hyde, cars don’t feel intimidated by bikes and your rev-bombing shenanigans. If anything, it’s like walking up to one of the large cats and slapping them in the infected tooth – it’s gonna cause a problem.

The aforementioned advancements in automotive safety features also means that a bike will always lose the battle with an automobile. Whether it’s an accident or a legitimate road rage incident, it’s never going to end up pretty for the two-wheeled warrior. In fact, it’s better to act like a saint: Excuse the trespasses of those who know not, and wait until there’s not a ‘situation’ before you twist the throttle and give it hell!!

A brief history of Road Rage

According to Wikipedia, the term ‘Road Rage’ was coined by a pair of KTLA newscasters in 1987-88 after shootings began to occur all around the 405, 110, and 10 freeways. The shootings were retaliation for aggressive driving, and triggered a response from the AAA Club about how to avoid aggressive behavior and individuals who were exhibiting it.
It is a worldwide phenomenon, but as you’ve read, it’s nothing new.
Recent studies conducted in the US have concluded that 96.6% of road rage is usually carried out by males who are, on average, 33 years old.

Certainly the article from The American shows us that road rage has existed since the dawn of the automobile, and perhaps even earlier. It could be that since the Appian Way was constructed, ancient cart drivers even exchanged expletives when they were passed by a lane-splitting equestrian.

One thing is for sure, crummy drivers and reasons to yell are also nothing new. The following comes from the 1930s:

“For every accident caused by high speeding, there are a thousand caused by low breeding”
– Automotive Manners from “Father Meets Son”, J.P. McEvoy; Literary Digest, Jan 1938

Walt Disney even made a famous cartoon centered around road rage in 1950 called “Motor Mania”. Goofy stars as mild mannered Mr. Walker, but transforms into the deranged and maniacal Mr. Wheeler when he sits behind the wheel of his car.

With advancements in video technology, social platforms, and YouTube, it’s all but inevitable that the rest of the world gets to weigh in on situations online. Now millions of people can chime in and offer criticism, biased opinions, and level up their trolly flamey-ness for the rest of the world to see.

below are some rad road rage videos and article resources:

The American
Guns and Road Rage
L.A. – 100 Years of Traffic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Mania
History of Road Rage

This one is chock full of undeserved vigilante motorcycle behavior. Thanks for making bikers look like douchebags.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPVcvFquCu8