Do you get angry?

For some reason I have always been one of those driver’s that just does NOT get angry while on the road. Have you ever witnessed road rage before? I have, and it’s a pretty scary looking thing. It can take control over almost anyone who allows it to control them. When I went to traffic school I remember watching a video that talked about road rage. There were real life testimonies of people who have lost loved ones due to road rage. I remember being so shocked at the fact that anger could take over someone’s thinking so much that they put someone else’s life at risk. I mean, anger can make us all do some things we might regret, but taking someone’s life because of it? How can we prevent risking other people’s lives and even our own life before we become affected by road rage? When someone cuts us off or follows us way too closely, I’m sure we all may get frustrated in those situations. Even if it’s not our fault that other people drive recklessly, we can try to deal with our anger in other ways rather than following those reckless drivers just to give them a dirty look, or to cut them off to get even. Now, we’ve all heard the technique of taking a deep breath and counting to 10. Believe me, this definitely can work in a time of anger. By managing your own anger you can try a couple other steps that may be beneficial. First, you could try to change the direction of your thinking when you’re in a time of anger. I think we could all agree that we would be less angry at a person if we knew that there is a possibility that their behavior was not intentionally directed towards us. Let’s say that if the driver that cut you off just honestly didn’t see you, then you would most likely be less angry at them. Or perhaps, if the driver were in an urgent situation of their own you would also be less angry towards them. So maybe try to keep in mind that the other driver may not have the intentions you are imagining they’re having. Second, before you are able to change your way of thinking, you could try to distract yourself from the situation. This is when you can bring in that old technique of taking a deep breath and counting to 10. Try to focus on the fact that you should be watching the road ahead of you rather than becoming distracted by other drivers. When dealing with other people’s anger, it can be as easy as just simply ignoring the actions of anger made by other drivers. Focusing on the anger of other people can not only promote anger in yourself but disrupt your focus on the road. Remaining calm is the safest response to anger. It’s not worth risking a life. Feel free to share your own experiences with road rage, whether you struggle with it or if you know someone who does. These tips could be really helpful on a daily basis while driving. Also, let me hear what you think on this issue. Should there be curriculum in driver’s training that require students to learn about road rage and how to avoid it? Should beginning drivers learn the tips and how-to’s of controlling anger while on the road? What would you say?

Posted on February 2, 2010 by Danica Lacy / 2 comments