factor to road rage, according to the National Sleep Foundation. We
all know how cranky we get without enough sleep. It makes us prone
to feelings of annoyance, resentment, and even anger. Eight hours is
still the recommended daily dose of sleep for adults.
2. Plan Ahead. Do you regularly whiz through your morning
routine in a whirlwind of chaos, trying to make up time while on the
road? Do you allow just enough time to drive to an appointment?
Then you're probably also more prone to a lead foot and a lost
temper. If you add 10 minutes to your expected travel time, you'll
have time to stop for gas, safely navigate those wet roads or detour
around road construction. Also try preparing clothing,
briefcases,children's school bags and lunches the night before to
minimize your morning rush. Extra time equals calmer driving.
3. Your Car is Not a Therapist. Many of us love and identify
with our cars, but sometimes you can take the "car as an extension of
self" idea too seriously. If your boss or your spouse left you
steaming, take care not to use driving as a way to blow off steam.
Competitive types (you know who you are) shouldn't try to prove
themselves on heavily traveled thoroughfares -- save that
enthusiasm for weekend romps on your favorite back roads. No
matter how much power you've got under the hood, your vehicle is
first and foremost a mode of transportation, not a weapon.
4. Turn Down the Bass. Without getting into the argument over
"aggressive music makes people aggressive," it makes sense that
listening to relaxing music -- or even a comedy channel on satellite
radio -- will make you less pumped up for action than a driving bass
line. Try tuning in to classical or jazz to reduce stress. Or listen to an
audio book. (Available from your local library or book store.) Either
way will also help drown out stressful traffic noise.
5. Loosen Up, Then Breathe: If you notice yourself clenching
the steering wheel in a death grip, try flexing your fingers and
loosening your hold -- you'll find that you can control the car just as
well. If your right foot is cramped, set the cruise control if traffic
allows. If you're on a prolonged trip, try not to exceed three hours
travel time without a break where you can get out and stretch.
Struggling to see through a dirty windshield is also an unnecessary
stress factor, so fill up with wiper wash fluid before you go.
Periodically roll down the window and breathe deeply and slowly.
6. It;s Not About You. Perhaps another driver cut you off. Or the
car in front of you is braking erratically. Before you assume the
driver is intentionally doing this to you directly, realize that you, as
an individual, are not the target. Perhaps the driver simply made a
mistake, or was just not paying attention. Maybe they have a
screaming baby, a loose pet, or a crazed bee in the car. Maybe they
were on the cell phone. The point is, don't take things personally.
7. Hostility is Toxic, And Risky. People most prone to anger
are almost three times more likely to have a heart attack than those
with low anger, according to the American Psychological
Association. Other health risks seen in those who display hostility
include obesity, depression, and stroke. Wow, who knew? Safe
driving promotes healthy hearts!
Not only will giving into anger not resolve an irritating situation, it
can increase the risk of retaliation. Think to yourself, "Is making my
point worth endangering my life?" If all else fails, do a mental 180
and try to brush it off.
8. Use Restaurant Etiquette. While it is upsetting when a
stranger is rude or cuts in line in a restaurant or store, most folks
wouldn't lose their cool and become abusive as a result. It isn't only
because they have good manners. Driving a car makes people feel
more isolated and protected, allowing them to act in ways they would
normally find embarrassing. So when another driver acts like a jerk,
respond as though you're in a restaurant. (And we don't mean Chuck
E. Cheese's.)
9. Take The Self-Test. Classes designed to help curb aggressive
driving often have participants tape record themselves while driving.
Hearing them selves swear or rant and rave on tape is enough of a
wake-up call for some of them to recognize and reduce dangerous
behavior. So try analyzing your driving. Do any of the following
statements sound like you?
*I regularly exceed the speed limit in order to get somewhere on
time.
*I tailgate other drivers, especially those who sit in the left lane.
*I flash my lights and honk my horn to let other drivers know when
they annoy me.
*I verbally abuse other drivers whether they can hear me or not.
*I frequently weave in and out of traffic to get ahead.
*I feel the need to set bad drivers straight.
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, your driving may
qualify as aggressive. The American Institute for Public Safety
(AIPS) has a more detailed RoadRageous Test that determines if
your driving habits fall under the "aggressive zone", "hostile zone" or
-- worse yet -- "war zone". Check it out at
www.aipsnews.com/rurrageous.html
10. Practice Kindness. Dr. Leon James, aka "Dr. Driving" and
author of Road Rage and Aggressive Driving, says that remembering
simple courtesies, like allowing someone to merge or apologizing
when we make a mistake, can go a long way in making the driving
experience positive for ourselves and others. His basic motto is the
old "do unto others" rule: Treat fellow drivers how you would like to
be treated.
As additional incentive, reducing your aggressiveness on the road
can also keep you out of serious trouble: Several states have created
special law enforcement teams to seek out and cite aggressive
drivers. Depending on the frequency of offenses, violators may be
fined, lose their license temporarily or even face jail time. Often they
are required to take a behavior-modification class as well.
We're all bound to lose our cool at some point, but by planning ahead
and keeping things in perspective, we can prevent our emotions from
getting the best of us. Putting aggressive driving in park will help to
ensure your own safety, as well as the safety of everyone around you.
(information used from Edmunds.com)
