Driving on busy city streets or congested highways, especially during rush hour, can be a stressful experience. However, for some drivers, the roads become a battlefield. The slightest infringement of their space, intentional or not, will see them losing their temper and looking for revenge. Road rage is now all too common, so here are five tips for dealing with it.
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Drive Courteously
None of us are perfect drivers and we all make mistakes. But you can strive to be a good driver. Treat other road users with respect — not just drivers, but pedestrians and cyclists also.
Use your turn signals at intersections and before changing lanes. Make sure that any maneuver you plan to make is not going to impede anyone else. Don’t use your horn unless it’s really necessary, and never tailgate the driver in front.
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Stay Calm
You should always try to stay calm when you’re driving. Planning your route in advance and allowing plenty of time for the journey will help to keep your stress levels down. Tune into your favorite radio station or put on a relaxing playlist.
If you do get held up and you’re running late, getting stressed, frustrated, or angry about it is not going to get you to your destination any quicker. Try to accept the situation for what it is, turn the music up, think nice thoughts, and, above all, stay calm.
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It’s Nothing Personal
If you become aware of someone near you driving aggressively, give them plenty of space and don’t antagonize them. Don’t let their negative actions drag you into some kind of dispute — it’s not personal.
When you’re being aggressively tailgated, don’t change your speed or make gestures at the driver. If you get the opportunity and it’s safe to do so, change lanes or pull over to let them pass. Similarly, if someone tries to cut you off, let them. What’s it going to cost you? Trying to block them will only cause conflict.
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Smile
Sometimes, all it takes to diffuse a difficult situation is a smile and a wave. If you make a mistake and cut someone off and they start pounding their horn, hold your hands up, smile, and let them know that you’re sorry. They will have made their point and should be satisfied with your apology. You never know, you might even get a smile in return.
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Safety First
If a situation escalates and an aggressive driver gets out of their car and heads toward you, try to stay calm. Lock the doors, roll up the windows, and, if you feel threatened, call the police. In most cases, the aggressor will just yell a lot. If they start to follow you in their car, drive toward a police station or a crowded place with security cameras. Don’t lead them to your home or work.
These tips should help you to deal with or prevent road rage incidents. If you are involved in a confrontation, allow yourself time to calm down before driving.
Image via Flickr by Patrick Feller | CC BY 2.0.
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