Road rage—whether caused by or directed at you—is a prominent problem that all drivers will have to deal with at some stage in their lives. If handled poorly, road rage can lead to accidents and injuries, which is why having some strategies for reducing aggressive driving can save your life and your wallet.
Read on to learn the best tips for dealing with your road rage and other dangerous and scary drivers.
3 Tips on Dealing With Your Own Road Rage
Preventing your road rage from happening in the first place is far easier than having to follow some anger management techniques on the go. To ensure the best possible chance of preventing yourself from becoming angry, follow the steps below:
- Plan ahead Road rage often occurs during traffic jams or when you’re running late for something important. Planning ahead and beginning your journey earlier can help minimize the chance of this situation occurring.
- Accept the situation If you find yourself in a situation where you’re already late for something, stuck in a traffic jam, or anything else, being angry about the situation won’t help. The best way to let go of emerging road rage is to accept what’s already happened and start thinking of ways to deal with the consequences when you finally reach your destination.
- Consider the situations of others Angrily shouting at the slow driver in front of you won’t make them drive faster and could escalate to a dangerous situation. Maybe they’re old and anxious behind the wheel or lost and trying to find their way around—now imagine how you would feel if you were in the same situation. Take a deep breath and wait for a safe opportunity to pass them.
4 Tips on Dealing With Aggressive Behavior on the Roads
Even if you’re a meditative guru, you aren’t immune to the potential for passive-aggressive drivers to direct their anger at you, and this is true while cycling as much as it is for driving a car. That being said, here’s how to respond to signs of offensive driving before it progresses to full-on road rage between drivers.
- Practice defensive driving Driving defensively can help you avoid dangerous situations entirely.
- Concede and move aside If an aggressive truck driver is tailgating you, gesticulating, and swearing, it can be tempting to drive slower and make it more difficult for them to pass. However, doing so puts you at extreme risk. In such situations, the best thing you can do is move into a different lane or even pull over to let them pass. Sure, you might lose a few seconds of your journey, but is your pride really more important than your life?
- Defuse the situation In road rage situations, retaliation will never lead to a good result. Instead, you should do what you can to keep yourself and others calm. This could mean ignoring aggressive drivers, apologizing if you were in the wrong, or other such techniques.
- Review your own driving skills Although road rage is inevitable, it’s not something that happens every day. If you’re finding yourself dealing with road rage often, then there’s a possibility that something about your driving is causing these situations. Maybe you’ve picked up some bad habits like texting while driving, or perhaps you’re not following the rules of the road as you should.
What if Someone Leaves Their Vehicle and Approaches Aggressively?
Even after practicing all of the techniques listed above, you are still at risk of other drivers becoming so infuriated that they leave their vehicle and start making their way towards you. So what should you do when this situation arises?
Above all else, DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR. You can never be sure of the intentions or behavior of others, despite how they may appear. They could be carrying concealed weapons or have every intention to cause damage to you or your car. If someone approaches aggressively, follow these steps:
- Remain in your vehicle
- Record their aggressive behavior, or ask a passenger to do so
- Drive away if able to do so safely
- Take note of their license plate number
- Call the authorities
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