Road Rage

Road Rage is More Common Than You Think...

This morning as I was driving to work, I witnessed an intense situation of road rage. It didn’t involve me but it involved a female driver behind me. I don’t know what she did to this guy to set him off. Perhaps she had simply blown her horn at him but whatever she did it enraged him to the point that he became very dangerous. While stopped at a red light, I watched in my rearview mirror this guy open his car door, partially get out of his car and begin screaming obscenities at her. I watched as he got back into his car when the light turned green and go about 10 miles an hour down the street, the whole time flipping her off. When we came to a second red light, I moved into the left turn lane and so did the young woman. As the light turned green the road rage guy, who was going straight, stopped his car next to her car, screamed some more obscenities at her along with hand gestures before going on his way. Looking at her face in my rearview mirror I could see how scared she had become. This guy was not only a danger to himself but to others around him.

According to RoadRagers.com people easily grow tired of the "idiots" they see on roads every day. Many develop road rage by giving in to their own frustration. The only problem with giving in to road rage is that it can often get you into a lot of trouble. Others can be just as enraged as you are, and their reaction to you may be down right dangerous.

You should always avoid road rage. Back off and calm down. This is hard for some people. Still, it would be nice to let them know how you feel, without endangering yourself or the general public.

How to avoid Aggressive Driving behavior....

1. Plan ahead and allow enough time for delays.
2. Give your driving your full attention.
3. Don’t take your frustration out on other drivers.
4. Driving is not a contest. It is not about winning.
5. Realize that you cannot control the drivers around you... you can control only the way you react to them.

Useful Tips

1. Don't retaliate. Never take the other driver personally, he/she is only reacting on a road rage instinct.
2. Don't make eye contact with an angry driver.
3. Before you react to anything that is done to you please ask yourself, "Is getting back at that jerk worth my life?"
4. Be polite and courteous, even when others are not.
5. Always ask yourself: "Could the other driver have possibly made a mistake?"
6. If you are harassed by another driver and being followed, do not go home. Go to the nearest police detachment.
7. Slow down and relax!
8. Never underestimate other drivers' capacity for mayhem.
9. Reduce your driving stress by allowing enough time to get where you are going. Know the roads that are under construction and listen to weather reports that may cause traffic delays. Practice patience and keep your cool.

Remember that you cannot control the drivers around you, but you can control the way they affect your well-being. Be calm and drive safely.