Our website is full of information on how you can successfully learn to drive (among other things). However, today we want to give you some information on what seems to be an ever increasing buzz word on the roads and that’s “road rage”.
There are all sorts of reasons why this has suddenly become an accepted phrase. Perhaps it’s the increased number of drivers on the road? General traffic congestion or, it could be that we’re all just too stressed out by the time we hit the road.
Whatever the reason, there are things you can do to stop it from happening. We have one question first though. Have you ever lost your temper? If the answer is no, think about it again! Even the most placid of personalities can be stretched at times, and losing your temper at some stage is inevitable.
What Should I Do If I Start to Lose My Temper?
It’s not difficult these days for your blood pressure to start to rise, especially when you’re in heavy traffic. Hot weather doesn’t seem to help either. Many drivers have their windows open and you’re also surrounded by hot metal cars that emanate heat, all adding to the whole “hot and bothered” feeling.
What you have to remember is you’re not perfect, no-one is! Everyone makes mistakes on the road and, even if you’re not in the wrong (on this particular occasion), you should think about implementing a couple of the points below:
- If you do happen to make a mistake, be gracious. Hold your hand up in an apologetic gesture. This often calms a situation before it starts. As hard as it may seem even if you think you haven’t done anything wrong, you’ll be the bigger person for making the first polite move.
- Don’t give someone filthy looks because you think they’re being an idiot; just concentrate on your own safety.
What Should I Do If I Think Someone-Else Is About to Lose It?
It’s all too easy to react when someone starts to gesticulate at you. Again, this may seem incredibly unfair because you don’t think you’ve done anything wrong. What you have to remember is this person is probably only going to be part of your life for a few seconds even if it is an unpleasant experience.
The best piece of advice we can give you here is to try and diffuse the situation. Hold a hand up allowing the other driver to think they were in the right to throw that nasty hand gesture your way. Below are a couple of other tips:
- If you think someone has lost it and they’re weaving in and out of lanes in front or behind you, DO NOT do the same thing, they’ll soon get bored and leave you alone.
- If you think you’re being followed, go to the nearest and most public place you can find (a police station is always good if you can find one) and park-up.
Above all, don’t rise to the challenge your safety on the road could count on it.
