Unfortunately, road rage is something people come in contact with on a regular basis. Whether you struggle with aggressive driving, or you come across other angry drivers on your daily commute, keep these five tips in mind to help tone it down.
Avoid Eye Contact
Someone just cut you off in traffic, and you are frustrated. Keep your eyes on the road. Even if your anger towards another driver is legitimate, your main focus should always be on the road in front of you. Avoiding eye contact keeps both drivers calmer. If you are the victim of an aggressive driver, this will take away their chance to engage with you. If you tend towards road rage yourself, remembering to stay focused on the road will help to avoid stirring up your anger more.
Stay Humble
Everyone makes mistakes. Even the most careful, experienced driver can get distracted for a second. Before getting upset with another driver, remember the last time you slipped up while driving. Do you wish others would have been gracious to you in that moment? Remember to give others the benefit of the doubt and treat them how you would want to be treated. You never know what kind of day someone else might be having.
Avoid Angry Gesturing
Obscene hand gestures are bound to escalate the situation, and they are never necessary. Other gesturing, like flashing headlights or honking the horn, can confuse nearby drivers. Your lights and car horn should be used to help prevent dangerous situations by alerting other drivers rather than to create confusion. If you are upset and need to do something to help yourself feel better, count to 10 or turn on some music.
Give People Space
When following behind another vehicle in traffic, practice the three-second rule. As you look ahead, find a stationary point, and once the car in front of you passes that point, slowly count to three. If it takes less than three seconds for you to reach the same point, you need to leave more space between bumpers. During dangerous conditions like rain or ice, the count should increase to six seconds. Leaving enough distance between cars in traffic can prevent fender benders and even serious car accidents. No one likes to be tailgated, so don’t do it to others. Road rage is easily avoided when everyone has a little breathing room.
Practice Safe Driving
Many times road rage is instigated by careless driving. Remember the road rules you learned in driver’s school and obey traffic signs. Stay off of your phone, especially avoid texting, so that your attention can remain on the road. Use turn signals and hazard lights when appropriate. Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination: rushed drivers tend to be angry drivers. Even if you are carefully following the rules, others may not, so always be aware of your surroundings and don’t assume that other drivers will act safely.
