Road Rage: What Is It And How To Prevent It

Road Rage is the popular term used for any form of violence occurring inside of or occurring to a motor vehicle. Road Rage is a very serious event that can lead to property damage, personal injuries, or even death. For those who have never encountered Road Rage, then cheers, and for those that have you know exactly why this issue is such a serious one.Road Rage has differing degrees of severity and can be caused by a variety of factors. The key reason for Road Rage seems to be an already irritated driver encountering an irritating event. These events are usually misunderstandings that push the already irritated driver “over the edge”. Certainly this is no excuse but it does help to explain why Road Rage happens.Other contributing factors to Road Rage can include:• Environmental Issues such as heat.• Bad day at the office• A bad situation on the home front• Stress due to bills and other money related issues• Lack of sleep• Running late• Feeling rushedOf course there are other issues that can contribute to drivers loosing their cool and composure. This is what makes recognising who is prone to Road Rage and who may not be all the more difficult since it is so personalised. What one can do is recognise these issues within themselves and act accordingly. Leave early to avoid running late, get enough sleep, or relax before getting in the car are just some suggestions.Recognising Road Rage when it occurs is simple enough and if you are victim of it you will definitely know. For the sake of those lucky enough to have avoided such confrontations some signs of Road Rage are:• Rude Gestures. This tends to be the most common and serves only to escalate matters.• Honking horns• Throwing projectiles• Intentionally ramming into the other car or even the driver should he/she step out.• Physically damaging the car• Murder!There have been several instances where Road Rage has escalated into the use of violent and deadly force over the fact that someone may or may not have cut someone else off.As mentioned earlier misunderstandings are really among the leading causes of Road Rage. An inattentive driver turns without signalling which just may be enough to make the driver riding behind that car to become irate. That driver who was already over heated and stressed is now extremely angry and acts out. The driver making the turn might have simply forgotten to turn on the turn signal or not realised how close the turn off was.Recognising the signs of being stressed or tired and acting accordingly is not enough to avoid Road Rage, though it certainly is a large and important step. Remember that you are sharing the roads with countless other drivers and as humans we all make mistakes. Give the benefit of the doubt to those drivers. That guy that turned without signalling more then likely did not do it on purpose or with malicious intentions. The same goes for that woman who cut you off on the interstate or that person just sitting at the green light.Be understanding of your fellow man and do not just fly off the handle. Keeping your cool is another great suggestion. At the end of the day, as long as you make it home safely, that careless guy who does not understand what a blinker is for is not going to ruin your life. It is far better to keep your cool and remain calm then to act out in anger and cause matters to worsen.Road Rage is a serious matter that deserves serious contemplation each time you are behind the wheel. If you do find yourself quick to anger while driving then pull of to the side if you can, take a deep breath and count to ten. Listen to relaxing and soothing music and leave your stress behind are also some really great suggestions to help you prevent Road Rage.Many driving schools offer tips, advice, and even courses on how to deal with Road Rage. The driving instructors at the school understand the underlying causes of Road Rage and can offer drivers ways to overcome it and to handle it should they find themselves a victim. Even seasoned drivers are encouraged to take any Road Rage courses available in an effort to prevent Road Rage.