If you find yourself yelling at other drivers or going out of your way to inhibit another car when you’re behind the wheel, now is the time to work on aggressive driving that can lead to road rage. You might not realize that your behaviors classify as road rage, but these actions can lead to serious consequences.
Understanding Road Rage
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines road rage as “a criminal act of violence,” and most drivers don’t go that far. Still, aggressive driving is much more common and has become a serious problem. When you slam on your brakes to teach a tailgater a lesson, make an obscene hand gesture at another driver, or engage in any way with others on the road, you are showcasing aggressive driving, which is a stepping-stone to road rage. It’s best to catch these behaviors early so they don’t lead to a more serious situation.
Road rage is a serious problem that shouldn’t be ignored. A number of accidents each year occur as a result of aggressive driving, and 37 percent of road rage cases involve a firearm.
Get Out of the Way
Instead of trying to inhibit someone else on the road by slowing down, just get out of the way. Chances are good that you’re driving ahead of an aggressive driver, so it’s best to move out of his or her way and allow the driver to continue. Leave it up to law enforcement professionals to enforce the laws. If you need to pull over to the side of the road, look for a spot where it’s safe to do so. But in most cases, just changing lanes will be enough to get away from an aggressive driver.
Avoid Engaging
Some drivers like to shoot dirty looks or hand gestures at others who they feel have personally wronged them. This can ignite anger in those other drivers, leading to dangerous situations. If you make eye contact with someone on the road, this person then might try to run you off the road or goad you into pulling over for a violent altercation. While this might seem extreme, we are seeing more and more stories in the news about drivers who are injured or killed by others due to road rage.
Use Methods to Calm Down
If you feel your blood pressure rising as the result of another driver’s actions, use some of these methods to calm yourself down. Try slowly counting to 10, turning on soothing music, and taking some deep breaths. You might also think about the other driver as a human being instead of just a cause of annoyance. Maybe the person is having a bad day, or perhaps the driver genuinely didn’t mean to cut you off or take your spot. We’ve all made mistakes in driving, so remember that you’ve been guilty too at some point.
When you avoid engaging with other drivers and remain calm behind the wheel, you can protect yourself and others when you’re out on the road.
This photo, “road_rage_road_rage_angry_motorist_gesturing_at_other_motorists_E00592,” by John Greenfield used under CC BY 2.o. “road_rage_road_rage_angry_motorist_gesturing_at_other_motorists_E00592” is licensed under CC BY 2.o by Gay Family Kia.
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