What can I do about my road rage?

Question

this might sound bad, but I never knew what a bad person I was until i started driving. I don't feel like that until I get in my car, then I just scream and yell and cuss people out. And lately I've become a racist driver too. I have plenty of friends outside of my race and even memebers of my family are all mixed up, but it's just when it comes to driving, things just come pouring out of my mouth and I just can't control it. And I think that one day I might get out of my car and hurt somebody, like seriously kick somebody's butt. Like yesterday, I was driving going like 80 on the street, and the speed limit there is like 50, but this car came out of nowhere and started tail gating me and honking his horn and flipping me off and stuff and cussing, so I just slammed on my breaks and started going like 25. and he just started backing way up off of me. I'm like the nicest person anyone can know, but when i get into my car i just totally change. i feel like such a bad person.

Answer 1

Your not a bad person (I think you know that) but you definatly need to change this. First, consider not only what you might eventually do but also what other's could do. When you slammed on your breaks it could have caused an accident (again, I'm sure you know that) but also, the other driver could have had a gun, pulled up along side you and shot you. That's it...over...done.

Let me ask you a question. Have you EVER made a mistake on the road and kind of apologized (in you head) to the other drivers that you affected? I do this. We all make mistakes on the road occasionally.

Here are my tips:

1) Try to understand that we all make mistakes and give people a break. Because everybody is human and we deal with thousands of drivers daily we are bound to see people making mistakes driving.

2) If the driver is doing nothing wrong you really have no reason to be upset at them. For example a driver is going 45 mph (the speed limit), you have no right to pull up on his bumper and expect him to speed to satisfy you. I don't know if you do this or not but a lot of people do.

3) Most importantly - What does road rage really solve? Do you get to your destination faster? Doubt it. All you're doing is causing a hazard for you, the other driver and all other drivers on the road. If an accident happens at high speed it could even travel and injure or kill a pedestrian.

I don't know if this helps or not but I hope so.

Answer 2

I think it's great that you recognize that you have a problem. Most road ragers think it's everybody else who has the problem. I drive about thirty five miles from my house to the airport where I work. Over the past dozen years or so I have tried everything to cut my commute time and no matter what I do, I can't make more than a very few minutes difference. If I'm running an hour late, the best I can do is to show up about fifty seven minutes late no matter who cuts me off or is traveling the speed limit in the fast lane in front of me.

I've often been amazed at how drivers will honk their horn or flash their lights when they want the space that somebody else is occupying and yet those same people would never even consider tapping someone on the shoulder in the grocery checkout line and saying, "Move over and let me through."

Just relax. You'll get there sooner or later and the only thing you really have any control over is how you are going to feel emotionally when you arrive. Life's short man.

Answer 3

I am not trying to call you names or be rude to you but that is your true self. I am not saying you are not a nice guy. But your behavior when nobody is watching is the real you.

That behavior is also an out come of other parts of your life. It may be that you are keeping things bottled up. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that you should flip people off to release the mental pressure. What I am saying is that you shoul examine your everyday life (not just while you are driving).

If you are a religious person, think about meditation and prayer to calm yourself down. If you are a philosophical person think about the bigger picture of your life and way to correct (or just change) things in your life that might be rubbing you raw.

Being a nice person is not an easy thing or else everybody would be a nice person and that would just be average. I suspect that deep down you are a good person and sensitive person. And probably that sensitivity is rubbing you raw when other are not affected by your local daily city life.

The only thing I can add is that eventually that part of you becomes your permanent personality. I look at all the angry old people and I wonder if they were born that way or slowly became that way. And I have to conclude many just slowly became "grumpy" old lonely people.
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I write these things because that's exactly the way I was. Then one year I took some time off and flew off to Hawaii (one of the smaller outer island) and lived there. It took me a year to decompress from NYC. At first it was difficult to get used to slow pace.

But now I am back in NYC (been back since 1998) and I am only slightly like that and I can catch myself become hurried and mean to other people. The only problem is that I am very much sensitive to other people being rude and mean to me (the kind of stuff my friends don't even notice). So I am finding difficult to live here when I feel like the whole city is constantly trying to knock me down (it is just their competitive personality). But I think it is a good thing and I will eventually move out to a slower pace city.

Good Luck.

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Answer 4

Dude,

You have some issues. Relax, take it easy. When you think about it, it really doesn't matter, in the long run.

If you were doing 80, then just pull over and let the other guy pass you. That is a sweet deal for you. If they're any cops up ahead, that guy will flush them out for you. You'll see the flashing lights and can slow down and just smile at the guy when you pass.

The other guys that don't drive so good, just think what idiots they are, and let it go. No need to be so intense.

Good luck with the rage.

Answer 5

Ya understand my favourite? Ok, so like using sixty five in a fifty five within the nation is not quick adequate for a few idiots that they ought to tailgate me...Why could they no longer simply move if they are in a rush you ask? Because their heads are too some distance up theirass! I swiftly get their awareness by way of swerving over to the shoulder and throwing a twig of rocks everywhere the entrance in their automobile. Don't fvck with me, at the avenue...I let you know!

Answer 6

Most road rage is caused by those who have anger issues in general. If you're driving 80 in a 50, that's a serious problem to begin with. Leave earlier if you're in a hurry. You have no time to stop if someone isn't paying attention and pulls out in front of you. Mostly they are angry with themselves because they almost got run over, even if it was their fault for pulling out. People love to blame others for their lack of common sense. You can get angry all you want while driving; however, it won't change the way other people drive. Think of it this way. Can you live with yourself if you purposely injure or kill someone, either through a vehicle accident caused by your anger or through negligent driving? Are you willing to spend time in jail for your behavior if it involves assault? Think it over. If your anger is that uncontrollable, talk with someone and find out why.

Answer 7

Try listening to soft rock, or personal favorites, but try to stay away from the hard rock, screamo music. Stuff you can sing along with, but not get destracted by the music.

Answer 8

you definately don't need to be behind the wheel of a car you are endangering yourself and others around you. You need a bycicle , public transportation or a good pair of shoes

Answer 9

I bet u wouldn't try that racist shiiit with a 6'5 300 pound niggga,white boy???

Answer 10

You are immature. You MAY grow out of it, like I did, if you live long enough.