We’ve all witnessed it, and some of us can be prone to it - road rage. We could be having a good day but sometimes when we get behind the wheel, our fuse can be a little bit shorter. It’s possible some of us may be more sensitive to road rage so let’s dive right in to what we can do to prevent it or handle it, should we experience it.
Preventing
If you’ve noticed yourself starting to lose your patience (and temper), a good habit to get into is checking where your emotional & physical wellbeing is at prior to driving. If you’ve just had a disagreement or argument with your partner or boss, or have just checked the news, give yourself some time to calm down before getting on the road. Making sure your thirst is quenched, hunger is at bay, and bladder is empty will help keep your emotions in check while driving. Is rush hour excruciating but unavoidable for you? By realizing the pressure that rush hour creates for you, you can at least prepare for the potentially stressful situation. Put together a few favourite playlists, pack snacks, maybe even get into the wonderful world of audiobooks and podcasts if you know you’ll be in the car for awhile.
Use common sense and courtesy while driving. Oftentimes, road rage stems from miscommunication while driving, so following the rules of the road and being courteous to other drivers is key. Communicate your intent by using turn signals and always check blind spots to ensure you don’t accidentally cut off other drivers. Maintain a safe following distance (2 seconds in ideal road conditions) so the driver in front of you doesn’t feel tailgated. Avoid yelling or making hand gestures at other drivers that could be misinterpreted or considered aggressive. Also, limiting the use of your horn to just when it is really necessary will also help keep other drivers at ease.
Remember, the other drivers also stuck in traffic are likely not enjoying their commute home either and you have a choice in this so try to remain cool and calm. Try to always assume the best in other drivers, not the worst. Mistakes happen, and you can likely remember a few times when you may have made a mistake yourself.
Reacting
While it may seem like common sense and is likely something you may try to do, the first tip for dealing with road ragers is avoiding them when possible. If they are trying to cut you off, do not speed up and attempt to keep them from merging. This will only increase their anger and potentially put you at risk. Allow them to pass and get as far away from you as quickly as possible. Similarly, if you notice that they’re yelling at you and making obscene gestures when they pass, do your best to avoid eye contact and ignore it. Getting into a yelling match behind your windows is not only silly, but dangerous as it may distract you from your primary focus - safe driving.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are confronted by an upset or angry driver, ensure your doors are locked and if it is absolutely safe to do so, take a video of what is happening or a picture of their license plate. In these scenarios, it is not considered distracted driving as you are collecting information to help the authorities. If you are in the middle of driving and the road raging driver begins aggressively following you, do not drive home. Drive directly to your nearest police station or to a busy public place, such as a gas station, where you can pull over and ask for help or call the authorities.
Even if you are not the targeted victim, don’t be afraid to report road rage if you witness it happening the same way you would report an impaired driver. Add the number for your local authorities on your speed dial list just in case. Pull over and park in a safe place and call to make a report as soon as you can.
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Doing our part, whether we are prone to road rage or a victim of it, not only makes our roads safer to drive, but more enjoyable as well!