How do I control my "road rage" or lessen it?

Answer 1

Consider what would happen if you wrecked at 60 or 70 miles an hour because you were tailgating someone who had cut you off or because you were tailgating someone who was driving too slow!

Also consider that you never know who is carrying a gun and is crazy enough to use it because you made them angry!

Answer 2

Remember that a lot of the other drivers are just as pissed off as you are,because they are trying to get some place to.They are rushing to get to work,or coming from work trying to get home.Tensions are very high,especially when the road is packed with cars that don't seem to be going anywhere.I live in a small city,so we don't have much road rage,but on those few occasions where it does happen to me,i stop and think.I'm won't get there any faster by getting mad.So i tell myself to calm down,relax,talk a deep breath or a few deep breaths.How ever many it takes to keep my mind clear of the rage.All the while not only thinking these things,but talking out loud so i can really get the feel of what I'm saying.And also saying i have no control over the traffic and how fast or slow it moves,be patient and everything will be fine.

Answer 3

Alter your way of thinking, first of all realize that many if not most motorists these days do not have their full focus on driving, so be alert at all times, avoid distractions such as using a cell phone while driving, drinking various beverages, and reading... Do not rush, if you're running late then accept the fact and drive with the flow of traffic, be more courteous of other drivers, such as allowing them to pass or gain access to the lane that you're currently driving in if that is their intention. Be patient, we all get upset when inconsiderate drivers use the far left lane as if they're the only person on the road, so just wait for a break, then go around them.
Above all keep in mind the possibilities of causing fatal accidents if you drive recklessly, all transportation vehicles are lethal weapons when used in a hostile manner, and believe me, if you ever did cause a serious injury, or the death of a person due to road rage, you would regret it the rest of your life. Good Luck.

Answer 4

1. Listen to relaxing music when you drive, not music that gets you excited.
2. Leave for all destinations 10 minutes early so you will never have to speed because you are late (then you are not mad at people who you think are driving slow).
3. pretend all the other drivers are your sweet grandmother or mother and treat them how you would want people to treat your mom or other loved one. After all everyone on the road is someone Else's loved one just like your mom.
4. Take a deep breath and think of consequences. Yesterday my boss's 43 year old brother was killed on his way home from work when a young man cut across several lanes of traffic so he would not miss his exit, clipped the front end of my friend's brother and flipped his car and he was killed. His wife will now be a widow because this boy could not wait until the next exit and add a few minutes to his drive time.
5. Have you ever noticed that speeders get there the same time as everyone else? You see them speed by and tailgate, only to catch up to them at the red light. Not worth it!!!!
6. Finally, listen to great pod casts on your I pod via the speakers on the car. You will be entertained and not be worrying about what everyone is doing. Also you will enjoy your drive and feel relaxed.
7. You will help someone live to be a father, grandfather and that may end up being you!
Good luck

Answer 5

Keavy Member since: July 17, 2006 Total points: 1936 (Level 3) Add to My Contacts Block User Best answer 42%229 answers Member Since: July 17, 2006 Total Points: 1936 (Level 3) Points earned this week: 0 Add to My Contacts Block User Best Answer - Chosen by Asker If she would've taken the red road, she probably would've ended up in the land of the Quadling County which is in the southern part of Oz. Glinda the witch of the SOUTH lives in the Quandlings in the original Oz series by L. Frank Baum. Each land in Oz has a color - Munchkinland in the east is blue, the Gilikins in the north are purple, the Quadlings to the south are red, and the Winkie County to the West is yellow. But actually the directions are reversed on a map of oz - north and south are the same, but west is east and east is west. So - if Dorothy took the red road in the MOVIE she would've ended up in the south and found the real Glinda that lives there and is a more powerful sorceress than the Glinda of the North in the movie. Then that Glinda would've given her the gnome king's magic belt to go back and forth between Kansas and Oz. I'm not making this up! This stuff comes from the Oz book series. There are 14 original ones by L. Frank Baum and over 40 in the oz series! 5 months ago

Answer 6

I would say you really need to get this in check, always program your mind before going somewhere, or if you are in a rush to get somewhere, always think ahead, but make an effort to say, I am a great driver and I am in control of my anger, I am capable and able to manage my emotions today, (think if you let the better of you take over, you could even end up killing someone unintentionally, or some crazy person could shoot you, think about it!! That's what you see all the time on the news, you don't want to do this, if you are someone violent you'll need to take anger management classes or find an equivalent sort of therapy, or have a plan of action, train yourself, speak to yourself, as this is very very serious, think is it going to get you to your destination much sooner being that way, I really doubt it. Think, think, think, of the consequences, road rage is on the rise, think of your family and ether's families if you caused a tragedy. Be less of your negative, or angry self, it does nothing for you, all it can do is create a huge problem. You need to train your mind.

Answer 7

First Kudos to you for recognizing it. I have the same problem.
Here are a few things I try to do.

1. I'm no fan but I've started listening to clasical music. Rock and other forms of music tend to be more exhilerating where clasical is more calming most of the time.

2. Learn to travel to places you go on a daily basis during times of lower traffic. My work hours are flexible so I get to work early and leave early by 1 hour each way and miss most of the people who tick me off.

3. Consider the consiquenses of your actions. It's easy to just get angery and yell screem or worse but what happens if a cop catches you. Is it really worth it? Probably not. Or worse what if the other driver is just as mad for some reason and gets offended by your yelling. Now lets say they have a gun in the car. It has happened. Is the trip to the hospital really worth it. Probably not.

4. Try driving a little slower, if someone looks even remotely like they are going to cut in, then back off and let them. Who really cares, it's only going to change your overall travel time by like 1 to 5 minutes depending on how far your going. So what's the big deal.

5. Find an unrelated outlet for your agression. I now take TaeKwonDo lessons. I figure that it give me an outlet for my frustrations and it's helping me get back in shape. It also is teaching me how to better defend my self just in case....

Now having said all that... I must admit I do still get pretty pissed off sometimes. The lack of consideration on the roadways is enough to give a saint road rage. But I do try to control my anger and 80 to 90 percent of the time it works.

Best of Luck

Answer 8

Good question. I live in Florida so I know EXACTLY where you are coming from. They driving habits of folks down here are god awful. Very inconsiderate towards other drivers. And I can tell you what has made things worse tenfold- CELLPHONES!!!!! Why can't people wait until they are done driving before they participate in petty and meaningless gossip over the phone. They are putting the lives of others at risk. Studies have shown that they are as bad if not worse than drunk drivers. You should see my congested morning commute. And the cellphone talkers make it MUCH worse. And then you throw in the 5 minute Florida stoplights, the lack of use of directionals by drivers, the folks who accelerate slowly or don't accelerate at all, the tourists and old folks who don't know where they are going, the endless stoplights that are not synchronized (you end up going from one red light to another to another and to another), the horrible and dangerous design of Florida roads and...... you feel like you are going to lose it!!! My 10 mile commute takes 45 minutes!!! Sometimes worse on Friday afternoons! BUT I would say that the best way to deal with road rage is to simply participate in acts of good karma. It actually releases stress. If someone can't get out of a driveway or intersection because other cars are being inconsiderate and blocking the way, let that person in yourself. And if someone is properly using a directional and wants to merge into your lane, give them a chance and let them in. On the road, one bad thing leads to another bad thing. The best way to solve that is to break the cycle. Be extra considerate to make up for the jerks. You will actually feel mcuh better once you arrive at your destination and get out of your car. It makes you feel like you actually took control of the situation and did something positive to defeat it.

Answer 9

1) Don't watch the clock
2) Keep up with the traffic flow instead of jocking for "pole position" in the pack.
3) Don't follow too close to the driver in front of you, stay at least 2 - 3 seconds behind.
4) When you are stopped behind a vehicle, be about 1/2 to a full car length away from it.
5) Listen to your favorite music that is calming, slow songs etc. Try to stay away music from that puts you in that "invincible" mode.
6) Find a favorite scent and spray it inside before you drive.
7) Sing, tell yourself jokes, think of pleasent thoughts and memories to keep you in a happy mood.

Doing as many of these while driving helps out a lot. Good luck!

Answer 10

I for one have seen your rage (or someone like you) and am praying for you to calm yourself down. It isn't worth taking your life or someone else's because you can't control the road or your temper!! Last week a guy gave me the finger and nearly missed hitting me as I tried to make a turn into a turning lane. HE was driving up the shoulder of the road, crossing the bars before the turning lane, breaking all the rules, and I was in his way! I think people who get so angry like that have more issues than driving. You must be angry that you can't always control your environment. Well, you just can't. Nobody can. So, calm down and realize how lucky you are to be free and alive. Don't risk injuring yourself or ending up in jail because you harmed someone else. SLOW DOWN and live. Better to be ten minutes late somewhere than dead or in jail. Imagine your guilt if you caused a bad accident because you couldn't control your temper. There are clinics you can go to called anger management clinics. Look for one in your area. And good luck.

Answer 11

I think the main reason people get so aggravated in traffic is because people seem to all be in a hurry to get some where now if this "road rage" flares up for you on the way to work or for an appointment try leaving early enough so you have plenty of time to deal with the unavoidable people on the road