Road rage is commonly known as “incidents of anger and aggressive driving”.
Although many people take the statement lightly, road rage is seen as a criminal offence, ranging from mild displays of anger to more serious forms of violence that can harm and even cause the death of drivers and passengers.
According to the website www.consumer.healthday.com, Tomothy Brooks (25) from California was convicted for second-degree murder after he stabbed a man to death for cutting him (Brooks) off on the highway.
Although this is a rare incident of road rage, the cause of a large percentage of deaths and injuries are due to road rage incidents.
A separate AAA Foundation study, that looked at more than 10 000 road rage incidents which took place over the past seven years, found they have resulted in 218 murders and another 12 610 injuries.
According to the website www.edmunds.com there are 10 simple steps to avoid road rage and to take control of your actions.
- Get your Zs, sleepiness is a major factor which causes road rage.
- Plan your daily routines ahead, more time will result in calmer driving.
- Your car is not a therapist, do not use driving as a way to calm yourself after a fight with a loved one or your boss.
- Turn down the bass, avoid aggressive music at all times.
- Loosen up, then breathe and count to 10 before you lose control.
- It’s not about you, think about others before yourself.
- Hostility is toxic and risky. People who are subjected to anger are more likely to get cancer.
- Use restaurant etiquette, don’t be rude.
- Take the self-test, regularly analyse your driving.
- Practice kindness, kindness is the key to keep your “cool”.
