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Have you ever yelled at the driver in front of you for driving too slow or not accelerating as soon as the light turns green? You are not alone; most of us are guilty of such behaviour. It is easy to become frustrated and some people express their anger while driving.
Over the past few years there has been an increase in road rage incidents. They vary from exchange of words to a full physical attack. Drivers are becoming less tolerant with traffic particularly with increased highway congestion. The following are some guidelines to recognize what can initiate road rage and minimize your chances of becoming a victim of road rage.
Behaviour That May Initiate Road Rage
- Following too close
- Using your horn excessively
- Making sudden lane changes and cutting people off
- Switching lanes without using your indicator
- Driving inattentively including talking on cell phone or using other handheld device
- Driving slowly on the passing lane
- Yelling and making impolite gestures
- Pulling into a parking space when someone else is waiting
Minimize Your Chances of Becoming Involved In Road Rage
- Avoid making other drivers angry by avoiding anger yourself
- Plan your route in advance allowing enough time to reach your destination
- Listen to traffic reports to plan alternate route and avoid heavy traffic areas
- Don’t react to another driver’s aggressive behaviour
- Be patient and courteous to other drivers
- Apologize if you make a mistake. This can reduce the risk of conflict
- If you think you are being followed, do not drive home. Go to the nearest police station or a crowded public place to seek assistance
According to Dr. Leon James, a.k.a. “Dr. Driving”, being considerate like allowing someone to merge or apologizing when we make mistakes can go a long way in making our driving experience positive. His advice is “Treat fellow drivers how you would like to be treated.”
Sources:
http://www.healthunit.org/injury/road_safety/roadrage.htm
http://www.peelpolice.on.ca/Crime%20Prevention/ecms.aspx/$prp/pdf-files/crime%20prevention/RoadRage.pdf
http://ci.cerritos.ca.us/cityserv/publicsafety/safetytips/safetip_jun05.html
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/110033/article.html
