Road rage is something that lots of people have heard, of or even experienced themselves, either as someone who has road rage themselves, or have been on the receiving end of it from another motorist. It is one of those things that doesn’t really have a clear definition, but it is characterised by aggressive and impatient behaviour on the road – it can also be very dangerous.
There isn’t one definite cause of road rage either – it could be triggered by someone running late who makes a silly error, a lack of judgement or just someone in a bad mood! One of the main things that can lead to road rage is tailgating, which is a bugbear of many motorists, as well as being incredibly dangerous as there is no chance to stop safely if it is needed.
One of the most dangerous places for road rage to occur is on a motorway, although that isn’t to say it is dangerous elsewhere. There are lots of additional safety measures in place on motorways due to the speed on them, as well as the safety measures on normal roads too, such as the use of Chapter 8 Chevrons like these vehiclechevrons.com But the fast moving speed of a motorway means that drivers need to be more alert, and a bad case of road rage could cause a bad accident.
Road rage is difficult to police as it can happen anywhere and at any time. If you are someone who often has bouts of road rage however, it would be a good idea to try to learn to control it. Although it is natural to get annoyed and angry when someone gets something wrong or seems to be making us late, engaging in dangerous behaviour on the road is certainly not the best way of dealing with it!
Some things that can help, include making sure that you are calm and in a good state of mind when you drive – for example, if you have just had an argument or a bad day at work, try to calm down before setting off on your journey, as you will already be wound up and ready to react – possibly in a dangerous manner. It is also a good idea to make sure that you have adequate time to get to your destination – that way, you are not likely to get as wound up if you are a bit delayed or held up.
If you are on the receiving end of road rage, it is good to try to prevent it from escalating further. If you have done something that is your fault and angered another motorist, acknowledge this if they confront you. It is also a good idea not to make eye contact with a drive that is being aggressive as this can inflame the situation further. If you are worried or shaken by a road rage incident, find somewhere safe to stop and take some time to calm down as it can leave you in a bad state of mind.
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