How to Deal with and Avoid Road Rage

Road rage is a dangerous phenomenon. If we experience it ourselves, we increase our risk of getting into an accident, and we harm ourselves mentally and emotionally. If we encounter someone else who is experiencing it, we are potentially in danger, and should take immediate action.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. If you are experiencing road rage against another driver who has wronged you in some way, it is highly important that you "let it go." It is helpful to remember that anything you do will in no way "punish" the other driver. You are not going to teach them a lesson by staring them down or giving them "the finger." You are not going to teach them a lesson if you to do them whatever they did to you, such as cutting them off. If anything, you will be doing exactly what they want, which is to play into their aggressive game.

2. The worst thing to do is make eye contact with the other driver, whether in the mirror, or directly. Remember, it takes a fragile and unstable person to drive aggressively and recklessly in the first place. It is very likely that the person will not respond well to eye contact, and they will likely treat such an action as a direct attack against them. Many fights begin for no other reason than a dirty look having been given.

3. Do whatever you can to distance yourself from the other driver as quickly as you can, in as natural a way as possible. Don't slam on your breaks or change lanes suddenly. Just gradually adjust your driving to get away from the other person.

4. Do whatever you can to transform your anger for the other person into pity. Imagine what their life must be like, getting themselves into constant trouble, and always being on the verge of an accident. These people are typically very lonely, and never have any peace. When you think about it in this way, it is easier to forgive the person and let the matter go, simply feeling sorry for them.

5. If it is you who inadvertently does something wrong, such as cutting off another driver by mistake, and you see that you have angered the driver, you then have a decision to make. It is sometimes helpful to wave in apology, but it is possible that the other driver will misinterpret your hand gesture as something else. I find it is best to simply avoid eye contact with the other driver, and just follow all the advice above. The other driver will quickly see that you are not out looking for trouble, and that you are not repeating your transgression with other drivers. They will likely just assume that it was a mistake.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are shaken up by any road-rage-related incident, whether it was caused by you or someone else, consider pulling off the road until you have a moment to settle down. Driving while angry or nervous is a sure-fire way to be involved with an accident.
• Avoid using your horn, except in situations where it is absolutely necessary to avoid an accident. Many people have very fragile egos, and having someone honk at them is as good as someone scolding them to their face, as though they were a child.