What is road rage?

Road rage is something that we are sure most people are aware of.  As the term suggests, road rage is driving in an aggressive or angry manner and it’s becoming a growing problem all over the world. Even the nicest of people can break if someone else is driving or acting in an incorrect manner on the road. But the reality is, road rage is not worth it and occasionally the consequences of it can prove fatal. In today’s article, we will be discussing how to prevent your own road rage, to prevent being a victim of road rage, and what to do if you are a victim of road rage. 

How to Prevent Your Own Road Rage

The first thing you can do to prevent road rage is to ensure that you are calm and together before stepping foot in your vehicle. If you set off somewhere in a bad mood, you’re simply making it more likely for something to wind you up when you’re on the road. You should also ensure that you aren’t in a rush when you’re about to travel. If you are less rushed, the chances are you won’t be as aggressive to another driver. 

It is well-known that our environment can have an impact on our mood. That is why it is important to make your car as comfortable as possible. It is getting hot here in the UK at the moment. Ensure your air conditioner is functional and that you have a bottle of water to stay hydrated.

You should also think about everything you could be sacrificing should you act upon your road rage. Road rage usually makes some act abruptly but the consequences of these actions could impact your life for a very long time. Road rage can include making a rude gesture to someone to something a lot more serious. Things like this could lead to imprisonment, fines, or points on your license that could lead to you losing time and your line of work.  If thinking about the consequences of road rage isn’t enough, we recommend acting as though someone else is with you in your car. A lot of us are understandably more conscious of their driving when someone else is present with them. 

How to Protect Yourself from the Road Rage of Others

You may not struggle with keeping your cool on the road. However, the same cannot be said for others. With that said, you will need to make sure you stay safe on the roads. 

This goes without saying but the first thing you should do is to stay alert when you are driving. Someone who has road rage can be triggered by something very minor. Focus on your driving and do not engage with someone who has road rage if they try to antagonise you. If someone tries to cut you off or do something else, do not attempt to retaliate. 

How to Deal with Being a Victim of Road Rage

It is likely that if you use your car regularly, you will become a victim of road rage. If the situation gets way out of hand it is important that you take the following into account.  

We have spoken about these before, but we recommend installing a dash camera. Dash cameras can record things surrounding your car whilst you’re driving and whilst you are not operating your car. Most models will swivel so they aren’t restricted to one direction. The majority of people who are affected by road rage will probably not know or care about their actions being recorded. However, if something were to happen a video recording can help you if they claim you started things. 

If someone starts to follow you (this does happen), do not lead them to your home address. If they are causing hassle on the road, you don’t want it to continue. Instead of going directly home, drive around, take different routes, and hope that you will lose this person. If this does not work then drive to a place that you know will have plenty of people, or go to your local police station – chances are they’ll quickly leave you alone.  

We hope you have found today’s article insightful. For more articles relating to driving view our blog.