Steer Clear of Road Rage
Almost everyone has had some encounter with road rage, either witnessing or experiencing it. At some point in our lives we all get cut off, honked at, or receive some other gesture. To make sure you and your loved ones get to your destinations safely and that you don’t damage your vehicle, it’s imperative to stay calm on the road and be careful.
To keep from having road rage it’s important to know exactly what
it is. Many confuse aggressive driving with road rage. Aggressive driving
consists of traffic offenses, while road rage involves criminal behavior.
Road rage usually begins with aggressive driving, but includes a physical
assault stemming from a traffic dispute. Road rage plays a role in two-thirds
of U.S. road-related fatalities reported the U.S Department of Transportation.
How do you avoid giving into road rage and deter people from developing
it? Follow these valuable tips:
•
Stop the urge of using a gesture or making eye contact with an angry
driver and ignore their gestures.
•
If you notice you are being followed do not drive home! Drive to a
crowded place, preferably a police station.
•
Under no circumstance should you get out of your vehicle.
•
Stay calm and never retaliate. Giving into your anger does not reduce
feelings of aggression. On the contrary, anger builds and can easily
erupt into violence.
•
Plan ahead and allow enough time for delays.
•
Give driving your full attention. Remember that you are in control
of a machine that weighs thousands of pounds.
•
Don’t take your frustration out on other drivers.
•
Driving is not a contest. It is not about winning.
•
Make sure your turn signals are in proper working order and use them
when turning.
•
Slow down before you get to a stop sign or red light. Don't fly up
to the stop and slam on your brakes. This will also save wear and tear on
your vehicle.
•
Don't follow close behind the car in front of you. The rule of thumb
is one car length for every ten miles an hour.
•
Report aggressive driving to authorities, especially when it results
in an accident.
A road rager can become upset because you accidentally cut in front
of him or her, or other reasons that were not intentional. A key
factor in reversing the process is an apology. Most road ragers
said that
they
would drop the matter if the other "careless" driver simply
apologized, which could be conveyed by a simple wave of the hand.
Road rage can happen on both sides. If you notice you are getting
bothered and might lose it, try to count to ten and relax. If
you need to stop
on the side of the road to cool off for a few minutes then please
do so. An even better way to eliminate your own outbursts is
to prevent them before you even leave the driveway. It was shown
how
you feel
before you start your vehicle has a lot to do with how stressed
you will become
while driving. Reduce morning stress by preparing as much as
you can
the night before. Choosing your next day’s clothing, pre-packing
lunches, gathering children’s homework, etc. can all minimize stress
before you leave.
Even though someone may have cut you off or you are annoyed at
someone for not using their blinker, try to remain calm and
steer clear of
road rage. Road rage not only endangers the passengers it also
can put unnecessary
wear and tear on your vehicle. The important thing is to get
you and your passengers to your destination safely.