Curb your road rage with these 9 tips
In a society with so many cars and equally as many drivers, it can get tricky trying to avoid confrontation from aggressive drivers out on the road.
POLOKWANE – Here are a few tips from the South African Police Services website on how to deal with aggressive drivers:
Protect yourself: If you are dealing with an aggressive driver, make sure your car’s doors are locked. If you are stopped in traffic, leave enough room to pull out from behind the car you are following. If an aggressive driver confronts you, call 10111 or drive to the nearest police station.
Do not take it personally: Control your anger, be polite and courteous, even if the other driver is not. Avoid any conflict, if possible. If another driver challenges you, take a deep breath and move out of the way. Never underestimate the other driver’s capacity for causing harm.
Avoid making eye contact with an aggressive driver.
Do not make obscene gestures.
Do not tailgate.
Use your horn sparingly (even a polite honk can be misinterpreted.)
Do not block the passing.
Reduce your own stress: Understand that you cannot control the traffic, only your reaction to it. In the end, you may find that personal frustration, anger and impatience are the real danger zones on the highway.
Be a courteous driver: You can set a good example, which can help make our roads safer.
