From romantic walk to romantic road rage

Some years ago my then fiancé suggested that we take advantage of a fine spring Sunday to go for a drive in the countryside.

Things went well to begin with. We set out towards Oxfordshire on the A40 with the top down on his MG sports car and the wind whistling through our hair.

We had a clear run into the the Cotswolds and enjoyed a gentle, romantic-seeming stroll around Charlbury.

Afterwards we shared lunch in a heritage-listed pub and talked enthusiastically about what the glimmering future held for us. Feeling benevolent, I decided to let my fiancé have a few pints. After such a romantic day in Arcadian England, I was happy to drive back myself.

However, about half way through the return journey, he broke some rather crushing news. He'd been having, he confessed, not one, not two, but three affairs. He felt terrible he said, but his troubled upbringing meant that he had a pathological need for tactile love.

What a thing to break to someone who was driving, and at 70 mph! I was both inconsolable and incandescent and, blinded by a torrent of tears, pulled over at the nearest services and said in clear and graphic terms that the engagement was off and the relationship over; never mind his need to "clear the air" before we settled on a date for our big day.

Good thing I took this course of action: both ending the relationship and pulling over. A new car insurance survey has found that one in twelve people has suffered a car accident after arguing with a partner.
A psychologist says of "romantic road rage", "A driver's performance can be significantly affected by their emotional state.

"Being upset, angry or frustrated with a partner or lover is a sure-fire way to distract from safe and responsible driving,' she said.
"With personal issues racing through their mind, drivers are at risk of subconsciously releasing tension by driving fast, or on the other hand being distracted by their heartache."

And my one-time fiancé? Last time I heard, he'd just taken nostalgic walk in Oxford to remember old times and rue the day he lost the "love of his life".

Image © Wolfiewolf via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence