It’s a scary world out there, especially on the road… but fear not - there are ways to avoid road rage! If you’re nervous about driving because you don’t want to be cursed at, run into the ditch, or worse, keep reading. I’ve chatted up my insurance agent (who has a very vested interest in keeping me and my car safe), and he recommended these ways to avoid road rage. Buckle up, adjust your mirrors, and let’s go!
It never fails – when you have all the time in the world, there’s no one else on the road. But when you’re in a hurry, or running late, you’re guaranteed to be stuck behind someone going ten miles below the speed limit. Frustrating! Save yourself the potential jump in blood pressure by giving yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going… you’ll be less inclined to speed or drive aggressively, so this is one of the best ways to avoid road rage of your own.
In some states and local jurisdictions, it’s illegal to chat on your cell phone or to text while you’re driving, and for good reason – you probably know first-hand how annoying it is to be stuck behind someone who’s distracted with a mobile device, or worse, how dangerous it is to drive next to someone who keeps swerving out of their own lane and into yours to play with their phone. Don’t be that jerk! Put your cell phone away during a drive, or hand it to a passenger who can play secretary for you.
I can’t count how many times I’ve been nearly side-swiped or rear-ended by another driver who just plain wasn’t aware of where I was. It’s a marvelous idea to always be aware of what other drivers are doing, to avoid a crash, or to simply get out of the way of another driver who may be aggressive, drunk, or simply distracted.
Let’s face it – it’s nearly impossible to be enraged with someone who just let us switch into their lane with a smile, or who let us have that prime parking spot they happened to get to mere seconds before us. A little politeness goes a long way to avoiding a road rage incident. Remember that when the teenager in the pickup truck tries to get in front of you in a construction zone… take a breath, smile, and wave them in. Consider it your random act of kindness, and perhaps even a road rage incident avoided.
If that moron in the sleek black Lexus just cut you off for the third time, and had the nerve to give you the finger, resist the urge to return the gesture, or (though tempting) to slam into the back of his luxury sedan with your rusty clunker. Let him go. It’s the return of words that escalates into road rage, so don’t exchange or escalate… don’t even make eye contact with the jerk, as someone already enraged or aggressive might see eye contact as provocative.
If you suspect someone’s in the midst of a road rage, justified or not, the best thing to do is to put as much distance between their car and yours as you can. Let them speed off, let them have the lane, let them get far ahead of you, while you calm down. If you’re stopped at a light, don’t escalate the situation; when the light turns, let them go and good riddance. If they get out of their car, get away from them by pulling around without hurting them or hitting their car, and move on.
If you can’t get away from the enraged driver, roll up the windows, lock the doors, and call the police (911 will do). Tell the other person, through the glass, that you’ve called for help, and continue to try to get away. If they get back in their car to speed away, take down their plate number and wait for the police, especially if there’s been a crash or a physical altercation. Don’t get out of your car! Help will arrive soon.
I know road rage can be scary, but keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be a lot less likely to be caught up in an incident, and if you are, you’ll know how to handle it. I can’t exaggerate how helpful a positive, polite attitude on the road can be, so try a little kindness! I know a courteous driver can mean the difference between an awful commute and a pleasant drive. Which of these tips have you used to avoid having, or causing, road rage? Do you have any other ideas to share?