Road rage is not something to take lightly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving, 37% of aggressive driving incidents involve a firearm, and half of all drivers who feel like they are being targeted aggressively, respond back.
Let’s face it, driving can be a bear, especially if you live in a big city. Traffic can be horrendous, and when you are creeping along and frustrated, one person who cuts you off can send you over the top. Most of us have experienced frustration, even anger, while driving. But when you act on that anger, you cross the line and could face serious consequences because of it.
B&B Towing and Recovery in Brownington, VT, offers the best towing, recovery, and roadside assistance services. If you get in an accident, experience a flat tire, or skid off the road, we can help. We are also an auto repair shop and a tire center, so once we get your tow taken care of, we can help get you back on the road in no time. No one likes delays, so we work expeditiously to get you back on schedule. Below, we’ll offer ups tips on how to avoid road rage. Contact us today to get started!
TIPS TO AVOID ROAD RAGE
Don’t Drive When Angry
If you get in a fight with a significant other, are angry at your kids’ behavior, or you are angry at a work colleague, it is not recommended that you drive. If you’re angry already, and someone cuts you off or flips you off, you are much more likely to take your anger out on them. While at time, it may be a harmless act, like tailgating, you never know what the other driver is thinking. If they have a firearm and are experiencing road rage as well, your life could be in danger. B&B Towing and Recovery in Browington, VT, recommends that you calm down before getting behind the wheel of a machine that weighs thousands of pounds and can do serious harm to others.
Control Yourself
Ultimately, you are the only person you can control. While you may get angry, you don’t have to take action on that anger. It’s best to avoid any outward signs of aggression. Thus, you don’t want to tailgate, especially someone who cut you off. You don’t want to make obscene gestures. You definitely don’t want to roll down your window and start shouting at the person. Honking is seen as rude, so don’t honk at someone repeatedly. In essence, don’t give the other driver incentive to get mad at you.
Know Your Driving Triggers
If you are aware of what makes you angry while driving, you can do your best to avoid it. For instance, if you are impatient and you have no patience for rush hour traffic, then leave your house sooner when you have someplace to be. If other drivers make you angry, develop a method to calm yourself. Many people hang sticky notes on their dashboard with inspiring sayings, or just a reminder to let it go. Being aware of what makes you angry can help you to either avoid those situations or develop coping mechanisms for when those incidents occur.
Leave Earlier
The thought of being late is stressful. If you are running late, or almost late, a red light can be especially angering. Then, suppose you hit a red light and then another red light. Then someone pulls out in front of you going below the speed limit. This is when you are in danger of losing it and developing road rage. B&B Towing and Recovery in Brownington recognizes that we all run late sometimes. However, if you can do your best to give you extra time to get to doctor’s appointments, work, and school, then you will be less stressed and less likely to develop road rage.
Listen to Music or an Audio Book
One good way to avoid road rage is to take your mind off the immediate happenings. When you are listening to relaxing music, you are much calmer than you would be otherwise. Similarly, when you are listening to a great audiobook (especially if it’s a self-help book), if someone cuts you off or is going slow, you’ll be less likely to notice or even care. Taking your mind off driving to the point you’re still driving defensively, but not aggressively, can be immensely helpful.
Follow the Rules of the Road
There’s a reason that it’s against the law to tailgate. First, you are more likely to get in a car accident if the person in front of you slams on their brakes because you don’t have enough time to react or enough space to stop. Second, it makes people nervous or angry, which can lead to road rage on their part. Similarly, running a red light or a stop sign is not only dangerous, but it can spark road rage as well. B&B Towing and Recovery in Brownington recommends that you always leave plenty of space between you and the other driver and that you obey all rules of the road, including speeding laws.
Do the Right Thing
If you always do the right thing, odds are, you won’t be a perpetrator of road rage nor will you be a victim. Remember everyone else around you is just trying to get to their destination as well, and they are in the same boat as you. B&B Towing and Recovery in Brownington recommends that you treat people how you want to be treated. If you let people merge in front of you, don’t tailgate, don’t get angry when you are cut off, and don’t rush, you’ll not only have a much calmer commute, but you will arrive less stressed and ready to tackle whatever is on your plate for that day. You may even feel a bit better about yourself by allowing others to go in front of you and making their day.
HOW B&B TOWING AND RECOVERY IN BROWNINGTON CAN HELP
Call us today for your next auto repair and towing and recovery needs!
