Did you know the term “road rage” was first introduced in the late 1980s by Los Angeles broadcasters? They coined it to describe a disturbing series of highway shootings that shocked the nation. While aggressive driving had certainly been around long before that, the phrase gave a name—and a new level of concern—to something that had become increasingly dangerous.
By 1988, “road rage” was showing up in national headlines, and by the mid-1990s, it had exploded into common conversation. What was once an occasional news story had become a recognized social problem. But back in the days when I was just a kid riding shotgun with Grandma Cooper, we didn’t know anything about road rage.
Now, don’t get me wrong—Grandma Cooper had a lead foot. Her little Chevy could zip down the highway like it had a turbo button, but she never darted between lanes or made your body lean the opposite way her car was going. She drove fast, yes—but she drove smart.
When another driver did something risky or just plain foolish, Grandma wouldn’t curse, honk, or wave her fist. She’d simply shake her head and say, “Look at that dumb bunny.”
At the time, I thought it was funny. I pictured an actual bunny hopping around in traffic, cute and clueless. But as I got older, I realized Grandma had found the perfect way to handle a stressful situation. The words “dumb bunny” weren’t threatening or angry—they were disarming. They made you smile instead of seethe.
Just imagine it: the next time someone cuts you off, you take a deep breath and mutter, “Look at that dumb bunny.” You acknowledge what happened without letting it own your emotions. You release that flicker of frustration before it turns into something ugly.
Grandma Cooper’s gentle wisdom still holds true today. We can’t control what other drivers do—but we can control how we respond. By calling it like Grandma did, you might just find yourself chuckling instead of cursing.
As she’d often say, “Stupid be stupid.” There’s no reason to join in. Recognize the situation for what it is—a few dumb bunnies out on the road—and keep driving with grace, gratitude, and a little humor. Because sometimes the best way to fight road rage is to turn it into a reason to smile.
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