On the road, small incidents sometimes escalate into serious altercations
between drivers. Crowded traffic conditions and high-speed freeway driving
often cause stress. Being slowed down by traffic when you're in a
hurry produces tension. Drivers can become frustrated and upset to the
point where they may behave in uncharacteristic ways.
Aggressive driving
behaviour may lead to incidents of road rage where motorists are threatened
and/or subjected to retaliatory actions by angry motorists.
Law enforcement and road safety organizations recommend the following tips on
how to keep your cool behind the wheel and avoid getting into confrontations
with other drivers.
How to keep your cool behind the wheel
- Plan your route in advance. Some of the most erratic and inconsiderate
driving occurs when motorists are lost.
- Allow yourself plenty of time.
Being in a hurry can cause you to become angry or frustrated. Realize
that if you leave late, you'll arrive late.
- Make a conscious decision
not to take your problems with you when driving. Take a couple of moments
to calm yourself down and leave your problems behind before you start
to drive. If you can't focus, don't get behind the wheel.
- Listen to relaxing
music.
- Don't take other drivers' mistakes personally. Remember everyone
makes mistakes sometimes.
- Say "Sorry" if you make a mistake. An apology can reduce the risk
of conflict.
- Be polite and courteous, even if the other driver is not. Avoid all
conflict if possible.
- Put yourself in the other driver's shoes. Instead
of judging the other driver, try to imagine why he or she is driving
that way. Someone speeding may be a physician rushing to a hospital.
Someone who jerks from one lane to another may have a bee in the car
or a crying baby.
- Don't compete or retaliate. If someone's driving annoys
you, don't try to "educate them". Leave traffic enforcement to the
police.
- Forget winning. For many motorists, driving is a contest. Instead
of trying to "make good time", try to "make time good" by
listening to music or an audio book.
How to avoid making other drivers mad
In surveys asking drivers what makes them mad, a few specific behaviours
consistently top the list. Avoiding these can reduce confrontations between
drivers.
- Don't cut people off, leave plenty of room when merging and signal
your intentions before making a move.
- If someone cuts you off, give them
room to merge into your lane.
- Don't drive slowly in the left (fast) lane.
If someone wants to pass you, move over and let them by. You may be "in
the right" because
you are traveling at the speed limit, but you may also be putting
yourself in danger by making drivers behind you mad.
- Don't tailgate. Many drivers
get angry when being followed too closely. Allow at least a two-second
space between your car and the car ahead.
- Don't make gestures to
other drivers. Almost nothing makes other drivers angrier than an obscene
gesture. Keep your hands on the wheel. Even "harmless" expressions
of irritation like shaking your head can incense another driver.
- Avoid honking your horn unless absolutely necessary
and, if you must, tap on it lightly.
- Many incidents are sparked by disputes
over parking spaces. If you and another driver see a parking space at
the same time, let that person take the space.
What to do when faced with an angry driver
- Don't engage. If another driver challenges you,
take a deep breath and move out of the way. Never underestimate
the other driver's capacity for mayhem.
- Control your anger; remember
it takes two to start a fight.
- Avoid eye contact with an angry
driver.
- If another driver is following you or trying to start a fight,
call police or drive to a place where there are people around, such as
a police station, shopping mall or hospital. Use your horn to get attention.
Do not get out of your car. Do not go home.
- If you are being physically
threatened, stay in your car and lock the doors. Don't pull over
to the side of the road to settle things "face to face".
- Don't carry a defensive weapon; it might provoke a potential assailant.
- Forget about winning. No one wins in a highway crash.
Sources: Ontario
Ministry of Transportation, Washington
State Patrol,
Insurance
Corporation of British Columbia's "RoadSense for Drivers",
AAA brochure "Road
Rage: How to Avoid Aggressive Driving",
California
2007 Driver Handbook
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