Road rage: don't be a victim

01/11/10

It's a sad fact: many of us have experienced road rage at some point in our motoring life, but knowing how to handle it, is the key to staying safe and avoiding further conflict writes Leana Kell of motors.co.uk.

As the motoring population continues to grow, the traffic and congestion in town and city centres continues to increase, which can lead to impatient and careless driving. Most of us are not inclined to trail along admiring the landscape, we’re keen to get to our next destination as quickly and effortlessly as possible, and those who get in our way may cause us unnecessary anguish.

Road rage is often a two-way exchange, so if you show anger, you’re most certainly putting yourself in danger, too.  It’s really not worth the fight, you’d be better off sticking to your road rules and focusing on being the better motorist. Below are some tips from motors.co.uk on how to ensure you remain rage free:

Limit stress
By planning ahead and knowing exactly where you’re heading before you set off, you’ll feel a lot more relaxed behind the wheel. Allow yourself plenty of time to get there and use satellite navigation where possible to ensure a direct route which you can stick to. Or if you don’t have sat nav then refer to the AA website for comprehensive maps and instructions on how to reach all UK and European destinations.

King, queen of the road
Remain courteous at all times. Avoid making aggressive hand or facial gestures, it will only draw attention and stir things up. If you spot an aggressive driver, don’t make eye contact with them and leave them lots of space. Even if the motorist does something annoying, just let it go, we’ve all had bad days but it’s crucial that you don’t get involved, particularly if you have children in the car.

Steering clear
Don’t try to compete with other motorists. If a driver is fast approaching, move over to the left and let them pass, even if they’re speeding and you’re not, it’s safer for you to steer clear of them to avoid putting you and your passengers in unnecessary danger.

Avoid tailgating
Allow yourself enough room to be able to slow down quickly should the car in front need to brake suddenly. Driving close to someone’s bumper is aggravating and can be quick to annoy other motorists or make them nervous, so always leave at least two car length’s space between you and other cars where possible.

 Have a heart
Avoid making decisions that will deliberately annoy other motorists, for example, parking in a space which another motorist is obviously waiting for, or blocking someone’s driveway. If you do make the occasional slip up on the road, make sure motorists see that you’ve acknowledged your mistake by smiling or making an apologetic hand gesture – this can go a long way towards diffusing a charged situation.

 Keeping your cool
If you find yourself in a position where road rage is unavoidable, here are some simple tips on how to keep your cool in the heat of the moment:

• Never get out of the car and confront a motorist – you could be subject to more than verbal abuse, so it’s always best to keep your windows wound up and your doors locked.
• In the event you’re followed, don’t drive home or stop your car, find a populated area, pull in and call your local police station if necessary.
• If you can, jot down the number plate of the car, and the make, model and colour. This information may be vital if the incident you’re involved in becomes serious.
• If that you are attacked, try to reach your horn, or make as much noise as you can to attract attention to the fact that you’re in distress.

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Note: pictures used with this article are posed, using models