Tips to help you avoid road rage
10 helpful tips to avoid becoming a road rage victim
There is a saying that goes, ‘If you don’t get angry while driving, you are not paying attention to the road’, and many motorists on South African roads can relate.
We have all heard about many road rage incidents with varying outcomes, from minor swearing at each other to drivers actually stopping their vehicles, getting out and resorting to physical violence.
Road rage is referred to as “incidents of angry and aggressive driving”. It is defined as an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of another vehicle or is caused by an incident occurring on a roadway. Road rage is considered a criminal offence.
Road rage is a term loosely used for any display of anger while driving and can range from mild displays of anger such as following too close behind another driver to more serious forms of violence, such as physical violence or vehicular homicide.
In this day and age, it seems that any expression of anger – such as waving of arms and staring – is considered to be road rage.
Here are 10 things to remember while driving that may help you to avoid road rage:
– Concentrate on driving – forget about work or home worries.
– Reduce anxiety and stress by planning your journey.
– To help with frustration, adopt a positive mental attitude.
– Listen to stress-reducing music while driving.
– You can only change your own attitude, do not try to change the attitude of other road users.
– If provoked, try to stay calm and be courteous.
– Always drive with locked car doors and, if you see trouble, do not leave the safety of your vehicle.
– This is a very old trick, but it really works – count from one to 10.
– Try not to aggravate the situation by retaliating. Do not honk your horn, flash your lights or gesture.
– If you are a victim of aggression – take the registration number of the other vehicle and report the incident to the police immediately.
It is important to remember another saying, namely ‘Rather late than dead on time’.
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