Road Rage - We're all Guilty!

Ever been late for an appointment and caught yourself cursing at the car in front? At least you have the protection of the car while you're gesticulating at the offending driver! Or, maybe you’ve been on the motorway and there's a car in your lane, driving just below the speed limit, but refusing to pull over – frustrating isn’t it?

It's highly likely we’ve all had an experience of this sort, either as passenger or driver. However, the negative emotions created in these situations are all classic signs of road rage.

Unfortunately, it’s a phenomenon on the rise. While it may not be possible to control other drivers on the road, there are a few simple actions that, if followed, can help to drastically reduce your own susceptibility to road rage:

Get a good night’s sleep – apparently tiredness is one of the biggest causes of road rage. Tempers are shortened and tolerance is lowered considerably when tired than when fully awake. This is fine in the morning, however it doesn’t help when it’s the end of a long hard day at work and all you want to do is get home

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The anxiety of being late is another primary cause of road rage – when it feels like every slow driver in the country has been put between you and your destination. Leaving 10 minutes earlier will reduce stress levels in the event you do encounter an unforeseen problem.

Regardless of how bad you feel, exercising simple driving courtesy not only makes traffic flow better, it creates a positive driving environment. The other driver is happy since someone has been nice to them. You get a quick satisfaction hit when you realise you've done something nice for someone. One good turn deserves another, and you’re generosity will be rewarded elsewhere on the road – hopefully when you’re most in need!

However, with the best will in the world, someone else might be having ‘one of those days’. If you find yourself a victim of road rage, there are some simple steps you can take to defuse the situation:

Apologise - even if you don't actually feel that you've done anything wrong to warrant offering an apology. Arguing could only cause the situation to escalate out of control.

Don't retaliate – even if it's warranted. Stay calm.  If you feel the situation could get out of control, go to the nearest police station. 

Don't make eye contact - wherever possible. Stay calm and don't be intimidated by anyone driving around you. Make sure your windows are closed and your doors are locked.

If The Driver Forces You To Stop - lock your doors, close your windows, and if they approach the vehicle, you’ll still be able to hear what they say and demonstrate you’ve heard them from your seat. If you are seriously concerned, call the police.

Don't let them follow you home – if you think you’re being followed, head straight to the nearest police station and report the driver.

There are a couple of good websites that let drivers vent off steam about their road rage incidents, including shaming offending drivers by publicising their number plates. These include:

Roadrage.co.uk

Baddriving.com

For more information on dealing with road rage check out driversdomainuk.com