Road rage and aggressive driving are the cause of many injuries and deaths. In fact, around 1,500 persons suffer injury or death due to aggressive driving each year.
Road rage is a cause of much aggressive driving. If you personally suffer from road rage, it is paramount to understand your triggers so you can avoid them. It is also important to recognize road rage and be able to avoid aggressive drivers.
Avoiding road rage
A lot of road rage may result in running late. If you know that your morning commute involves a lot of traffic, leaving earlier in the morning may result in a calmer commute. It is also better to try driving with a positive attitude in mind. Other drivers may make occasional mistakes, but in most cases, this is not intentional.
If you are angry or distressed over something unrelated, you should not drive.
Dealing with aggressive drivers
If you encounter an aggressive driver, you should first try to remove yourself from the situation. Merge over to the right and let the driver pass. Slow down if necessary so you are not driving next to the aggressive driver. In many cases, the aggressive driver will pass and be on their way. You should avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver, and if the driver is making rude hand signals, do not engage. If you frequently encounter aggressive drivers, you may want to keep a road rage hotline number in your phone to report them.
Road rage and aggressive driving claim lives each year. Taking the time to drive calmly and giving others grace is the best way to avoid this.
