Road Rage: How to Prevent It

From TeenHealthCentre.com

Anger
Road Rage: How to Prevent It
By THC
Oct 25, 2004, 12:02

“Road rage” is something that has recently gained lots of media attention and for good reason. It’s dangerous and can cost people their lives!! It’s important to remember, especially if you’re a new driver, that the road isn’t the place to take out all of your pent up aggression. Don’t let the actions of other drivers get you all worked up. It’s not worth risking your life and the lives of others just to teach some other driver a lesson. It’s impossible for everyone to be a perfect driver all of the time, but it makes it a lot easier on everyone if you at least try to be courteous on the road.

Here are some tips to remember while you’re out on the road. They’ll help prevent you from becoming the target of someone else’s road rage.

Be a courteous driver. Think of what you might do if you were face to face with the object of your rage. People tend to act irrationally behind the wheel because they feel like they can’t be seen or recognized. Just remember to treat other drivers like you’d like to be treated.
Always signal your intentions. It’s important to signal when turning or changing lanes. This allows other drivers the time to react to you and prevents anyone from getting mad when they have to slam on the breaks to accommodate your actions.
If you are in the left “fast” lane and see someone behind you, move to the right. Lots of aggressive drivers tailgate because they feel they just have to get ahead of everyone else. It’s not worth risking a confrontation just to make them angry. Just let them pass. They’re probably speeding anyway so hopefully an officer stops them up ahead.
Don’t tailgate. This is one of the main causes of road rage and at least 90% of rear end collisions are caused at least in part by people following the car in front of them too closely. If you avoid following people too closely you could be saving yourself from causing an accident and you’ll also prevent the driver in front you from getting angry.
Watch your high beams. Make sure you aren’t blinding someone behind you or in oncoming traffic with your brights.
Observe parking lot “rules". Especially during busy times like weekends and holiday shopping season. Lots of people are already stressed out during these times and it doesn’t take much to anger someone who’s been driving around looking for a parking spot for 20 minutes. When you get in your car to leave the parking spot, do so as soon as possible. Nothing angers people more that someone sitting in their car for 10 minutes applying make up or counting change. Just be courteous and move. Another thing to remember is not to “steal” spots from others. If you see someone waiting for a spot, don’t swerve into it in front of him or her. This has caused many parking lot confrontations.

These might all sound simple and common sense, but a lot of people forget these rules and that’s what causes road rage!

Some Driving Stats

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for ages 5-32.
32% of all drivers 15-24 years of age involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
Nearly 40% of male drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
In 1993, 40, 115 people died in highway crashes.
In 1992 in the US, 16-20 year olds were involved in 5,717 fatal crashes, 75,00 crashes causing incapacitating injuries, and 161,000 crashes involving non-incapacitating injuries.

For more great driving tips go to www.teendriving.com.