Probably you started reading this article thinking about what to do if another driver expresses road rage toward you, but there are two main parties to every incident of road rage: The other drivers and yourself. How we can stay away from episodes of road rage begins inside each of us. We have to care about people we do not know and people who may not care in return by being willing to care enough about us all that we do not place ourselves into possible road rage situations.
1. Aggressive driving versus assertive driving
The roots of road rage seem to stem from seeds of all too common aggressive driving, those being any acts of driving without a commitment to the safety of all sharing the roads.
Aggressive driving is acts of driving that demand to be first, to be right and to be the exception rather than the rule. AAA Foundation describes common behaviors behind the wheel considered potentially aggressive driving as including tailgating, speeding, racing, failing to observe driving regulations and signs, and looking for ways to confront other drivers. The distraction of pursuing a vendetta creates unsafe driving conditions for all drivers.
Assertive driving is making decisions in the best interest of all affected by them and keeping commitments made upon application for a driver's license. This means observing the rules of the road even when it means you will arrive late, for example. After all, it is our responsibility to leave on time so we can arrive on time. We have to be willing to own our part in being late and not expect other drivers to clear the road for our personal convenience.
Road rage transitions from aggressive driving when the line between disregarding safety and taking steps to act on it merges into acts of driving that could bring harm to someone else. AAA Foundation suggests a "three-pronged approach" to disengage from road rage, which are "don't offend, don't engage, and adjust your attitude."The roots of road rage seem to stem from seeds of all too common aggressive driving, those being any acts of driving without a commitment to the safety of all sharing the roads.
Aggressive driving is acts of driving that demand to be first, to be right and to be the exception rather than the rule. AAA Foundation describes common behaviors behind the wheel considered potentially aggressive driving as including tailgating, speeding, racing, failing to observe driving regulations and signs, and looking for ways to confront other drivers. The distraction of pursuing a vendetta creates unsafe driving conditions for all drivers.
Assertive driving is making decisions in the best interest of all affected by them and keeping commitments made upon application for a driver's license. This means observing the rules of the road even when it means you will arrive late, for example. After all, it is our responsibility to leave on time so we can arrive on time. We have to be willing to own our part in being late and not expect other drivers to clear the road for our personal convenience.
Road rage transitions from aggressive driving when the line between disregarding safety and taking steps to act on it merges into acts of driving that could bring harm to someone else. AAA Foundation suggests a "three-pronged approach" to disengage from road rage, which are "don't offend, don't engage, and adjust your attitude."
2. The first person you have to disengage from road rage is yourself
Make sure you are not driving aggressively. We do not know the drivers next to us or what kind of day they have had, so it is important to drive courteously so as not offend them in any way. Learning defensive driving techniques taught in a driving safety course will show you what to do, why to do it, when to do it and how to do them to drive responsibly.
Don't offend. You may be right about not having to change lanes so speeding drivers can race past while you drive at the speed limit, but that does not excuse you from doing so when you deliberately slow down other drivers. It is discourteous to hold up traffic when you could move over to let it pass, for example.
3. Do not engage
This means to give other drivers benefit of doubt. Assume they did not mean to cut you off, did not mean to follow so closely behind and did not mean to gesture to you. Avoid making eye contact, and steer clear of them if possible. Try to find an exit from the roadway. Putting some distance between them and you can help make what is out of sight out of mind.
4. Adjust your attitude
Driving is not a game. Never stop to try to work things out with an aggressive driver. Stay focused on getting to your destination safely. If you are confronted, remain calm and head toward somewhere you can get help, like a fire station or police station. Someone truly following you can be an emergency, so call 911 if necessary.
Disengaging from road rage is a two-part process that starts with self. It requires a deliberate plan of action to get organized before getting behind the wheel. Combined with defensive driving techniques learned in a driving safety course, the two work together to keep us prepared to expect the unexpected. Forming habits of exercising foresight, giving benefit of doubt and dropping needs to be right and to be first helps keep everyone safer on the roads of life.
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