Road Rage

Road rage as (describe by Wikipedia as)aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behavior might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions which result in injuries and even deaths. It can be thought of as an extreme case of agressive driver.

Australians spend countless hours on the road traveling to and from work; it is under standable that some of these people get upset if they are having a bad day. Often this is shown in the car and presents itself as road rage. Road rage can be a simple as some one glaring at you (generally waiting for a reaction) to having some one purposely ramming their car into another car or a physical assault that could lead to major injury or even death. You must remember that you can not be responsible for some one else’s behavior but you must be responsible for your own. It is important that you don’t be responsible for instigating a road rage incident and don’t react to some one who is aggressive to you.

Examining signs of road rage and finding an appropriate avoidance response to these signs.

Signs:

• Someone is flashing their lights at you. Do not flash your lights at any one else. 
• Someone’s blowing their horn at you. Don’t honk your horn excessively. 
• Speeding through traffic which could lead him to flash their lights or blow their horn, don’t speed to stay ahead of them. 
• Gesturing: Don’t gesture at people regardless of how frustrated or angry you get. 
• Driving erratically, changing lanes and weaving through traffic. Drive safely at all times and be patient, you can’t get to a destination safely by driving erratically; it could lead to you or someone else getting seriously injured or killed. 
• Tailgating: Don’t tailgate someone else it is unsafe. 
• Staring or giving dirty looks: Don’t make eye contact, don’t respond in any way. 
• Yelling: Don’t make eye contact, don’t respond in any way. 
• Attacking: It is important that you don’t stop. If you have to stop at traffic lights and you feel intimidated or threatened in any way call 000, keep all your doors locked and windows closed. Drive off as quickly as possible, if you can drive towards a police station. 

Response:Stay Calm,Refuse to get involved in angry or emotional situations, ignore angry people and don’t react to any signs of conflict.  If the car is behind you and indicates that he wants to get past you, do not put yourself in danger and drive at a legal speed (don’t speed) let him go without stopping if it is safe to do so. If you have cut him off or he is angry with you don’t stop, if he continues to follow you don’t go home drive to the nearest police station. Always stay calm and think about driving safely. If you cut someone off or realise that you have upset them signal that you are sorry, just a simple wave can pacify someone who is angry or upset.