How to Avoid Road Rage as a Young Driver
You’ve passed your test and you’re now ready to hit the open road. Imagine the independence and freedom you’ll have now and all of the places you can go. Unfortunately that peaceful, exciting image you have of driving is often quickly replaced with stress, anger and frustration. So what changes? The answer is other drivers!
It’s hard to keep your cool when you encounter the questionable driving skills of other motorists. However, it isn’t just your own anger that you need to be wary of. You’ll occasionally need to deal with other driver’s road rage issues. Below you’ll discover some of the best tips for avoiding road rage, both for keeping your own anger in check and dealing with others.
Planning ahead and leaving early
One of the leading causes of road rage in young drivers is stress brought on by the fear of being late. According to ingenie, a survey carried out by the company showed that a massive 71% of drivers tended to be a lot calmer when they found they had plenty of time to reach their chosen destination. Planning ahead enables you to look for the quickest and quietest route. If you then make sure you set off within plenty of time, you won’t be worrying about any slow drivers you encounter on the way. As a general rule, aim to add an extra half an hour onto the journey to accommodate for any unforseen hold ups.
Never set off when emotions are running high
Another useful tip featured on Drive Like a Girl, is to ensure you are feeling completely calm before you head out on your journey. If you’re upset or angry not only will your driving skills be compromised but you’ll also be more likely to get frustrated with the driving habits of others. As clichéd as it sounds, taking a few deep breaths to slow your breathing and calm the mind before you set off could make a massive difference to how you react on the road.
Resist the urge to get into an argument
If it’s other people’s road rage you’re up against, you really need to resist the urge to get into an argument. You cannot control other people’s behaviour, but you can control how you respond to it. If you feel yourself getting annoyed by another driver’s road rage, pull over where you can and take the time to calm down. Not only will getting into an argument put your own driving at risk, but it could be potentially dangerous if the other driver becomes violent. The police have actually put measures in place to reduce road rage, charging fines for those who are caught tailgating, lane hogging and failing to give way. Don’t leave your vehicle, don’t open your window and don’t engage in an conversation with someone who loses their cool with you.
Overall it can be hard to avoid road rage. You need to learn to take the emotion out of your driving. Consider the rules of the road you learned during your driving theory test – refresh them from time to time too to keep your focus -and put these at the heart of everything you do as you set off on the open road.
Category: Student News
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