Preventing Road Rage

Drivers are not alone.  We must share the road with each other, with pedestrians, and with bicyclists.  The hustle and bustle of this modern day, the stress of jobs and the rush to get form place to place has evoked a country wide problem with road rage.  The NHTS states that road rage involves a criminal act of violence, and aggressive driving can range from tailgating to speeding to running red lights. They estimate that aggressive driving accounts for about one-third of all crashes and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities.

Road rage comes in many forms, from yelling at another motorist to physically assaulting other drivers. As the roadways get more and more congested, drivers become frustrated.  Yet, It is a personal responsibility to reduce stress while driving, to slow down, and to remain composed, no matter the situation. There are many ways to prevent road rage. Following these tips will most likely result in a much more calm and patient driver no matter the situation.

Plan for extra time:  This starts with making morning preparations the night before, whether its kids lunches or your clothing for the next day.  Shoot for leaving a half hour earlier than you really need to leave.  The less rushed you are will less stressed you will be by backed up traffic or slow moving drivers.  When people are late getting somewhere they are more likely to speed and to lose their temper.

Avoid ‘Emotional Drives’: Use your car for transportation purposes only.  Your car should not be driven to blow off steam, and it should not be driven to prove anything, no matter how big the engine is. Most certainly do not carry on an upsetting conversation on your cell while trying to drive.

Think about your music:  Aggressive music, such as heavy metal, tends to make people aggressive.  If you are prone to these feeling, certainly don’t listen to music that would ignite them.  There is plenty of other stuff on the radio, try a comedy station for example.

Adequate Sleep:  Many adults sleep less then six hours a night, and this is not adequate sleep, it is  recommended that we get at least seven.  Tired people results in cranky drivers and less focus.

Give other a break:  If you are cut off, don’t assume the driver is targeting you.  People make mistakes, they get distracted.  A quick honk of the horn is adequate.  If you really think about it there are more problems in this world than slow or wild drivers.

Act as an example:  If you walk into a confrontation calm and well behaved, the other driver may realize how ridiculous they are acting – you never know. Just because another driver is being rude, enraged, or irresponsible doesn’t mean you have to copy him.  Keeping your cool gives you an upper hand, and sometimes dissolves a potential situation into nothing.