Focus on your driving and stay calm. Concentrate on getting from one place to another safely. Yelling, pounding on the steering wheel and honking your horn won’t make traffic move any faster. Don’t take your frustrations out on other drivers. Plan and allow enough time for delays and try to forget about time if you’re running late. Remember that reaching your destination safely and calmly is your goal.
Adjust your attitude.
The most important actions you can take to avoid aggressive driving take place inside your head. By changing your approach to driving, you can make every trip more pleasant.
- Forget winning. For too many motorists, driving becomes a contest.
- Put yourself in the other driver’s shoes.
- Listen to soothing music or a book on tape.
- Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing.
You’ll arrive much calmer, fresher, and in a less stressed-out frame of mind.
Avoid being an aggressive driver:
- Allow more travel time to get to your destination. It reduces stress dramatically.
- Come to a full stop at red lights and stop signs. Never run yellow lights.
- Let other drivers merge with you.
- Obey posted speed limits.
- Don’t ever follow other drivers too closely.
- Resist temptation to teach someone a lesson.
- Concentrate on driving, not on cell phones, stereo, passengers or other distractions.
- Remember that you can’t control traffic, but you can control yourself, your driving, and your emotions.
Avoid creating a situation that may provoke another motorist.
- Speeding up when someone tries to pass you.
- Tailgating people who are going slower than you.
- Weaving in and out of traffic.
- Passing cars on the right.
- Flashing your headlights at vehicles.
- Overusing your horn.
- Making obscene gestures.
- Yelling out your window at people.
- Racing for a position on the highway.
Don’t engage with an angry driver.
One angry driver can’t start a fight unless another driver is willing to join in. Don’t allow yourself to get drawn into a confrontation. When you encounter an angry driver, don’t make matters worse by triggering a confrontation. Avoid eye contact and don’t make inappropriate hand or facial gestures.You can protect yourself against aggressive drivers by refusing to become angry at them.
Steer clear and give angry drivers plenty of room.
Give angry drivers lots of room. A driver you may have offended can snap and become truly dangerous. If the other driver tries to pick a fight, put as much distance as possible between your vehicle and the other car, and then get away as quickly as possible.
- Don't block passing lanes.
- Avoid blocking right-hand turn lanes.
- Don’t take more than one parking space.
- Don’t tailgate.
- Don’t stop in the road to talk with pedestrians or drivers.
- If you travel slowly, pull over and allow traffic to pass you.
- Avoid eye contact with aggressive drivers.
- Keep your eyes on the road.
- Keep away from erratic drivers.
- Don’t challenge other drivers by speeding up to hold your own in your travel lane.
- Ignore gestures and do not return them.
- If you make a mistake try to apologize with an appropriate gesture.
If you think you are in danger, use a cellular phone to call the police. Otherwise, drive to a place where there are people around, such as a police station, convenience store, shopping center, or even a hospital. Use your horn to get someone’s attention. This action will usually discourage an aggressor. Do not get out of your car. Do not go home.
Focus on your driving and stay calm. Concentrate on getting from one place to another safely. Yelling, pounding on the steering wheel and honking your horn won’t make traffic move any faster. Don’t take your frustrations out on other drivers. Plan and allow enough time for delays and try to forget about time if you’re running late. Remember that reaching your destination safely and calmly is your goal.