| According to the Foundation for Traffic Safety, road | | | | if you've been cut off, resist the urge to make any |
| rage and aggressive driving are two of the top | | | | hand gestures at the driver, as you'll risk escalating |
| concerns facing today's drivers. In today's fast-paced | | | | the situation. If an enraged driver starts to follow |
| world, it is all too easy to become worked up if your | | | | you, remain calm. Change lanes to let them pass. If a |
| commute is taking a little longer than expected. Even | | | | driver refuses to go around you, and instead seems |
| if you remain patient, there's no guarantee that | | | | to be following you or looking for a confrontation, do |
| everyone else behind the wheel will be driving in a | | | | not weave in and out of traffic in an attempt to lose |
| courteous manner. Traffic jams make driving a | | | | them, even though this works in the movies. In real |
| tedious task, and can increase drivers' stress levels, | | | | life, you risk causing an accident or making other |
| resulting in road rage. If you drive today, it is nearly | | | | drivers mad at you. |
| impossible to escape the consequences of enraged | | | | If you are being followed, go with the flow of traffic, |
| drivers on the road. How do you avoid becoming a | | | | and head to a place where you feel safe. Call 911 on |
| road rage victim? | | | | your cell phone, and don't stop unless you are in a |
| First, understand the importance of your driving style. | | | | well-lit location with lots of other people nearby. If |
| If you know you are a slower driver, keep to the | | | | the enraged driver rams your car or you must |
| right lane, to avoid agitating drivers who want to | | | | otherwise stop for any reason, be sure to have your |
| speed past you. Use your turn signals, and do not cut | | | | pepper spray canister or stun gun ready. You never |
| anyone off, even if it means missing your exit. Be | | | | know what the other driver could be thinking. Do not |
| aware of other drivers on the road, and do your | | | | leave your car to approach him; if anyone from the |
| best to interact with them in a positive manner, no | | | | other car approaches you, neutralize the threat as |
| matter how they are acting towards you, rather | | | | soon as they are within the range of your self |
| than doing something that will upset them further. | | | | defense device. Do whatever is necessary to avoid a |
| Watch out for other drivers who may be driving in | | | | face-to-face contact with someone experiencing road |
| an unsafe manner. Expect the unexpected, and be | | | | rage. |
| prepared for other drivers to make mistakes. If you | | | | The majority of motorists are likely to experience |
| see someone driving in an unsafe or erratic manner, | | | | the effects of road range at some point. This |
| call 911 on your cell phone, rather than trying to stop | | | | situation can be very dangerous, but it is important |
| them yourself. By alerting police to such drivers, you | | | | not to panic. While you're still on the road and in a |
| may be able to stop someone else from becoming | | | | populated area, you are still safe. Avoid further |
| the victim of a driver with road rage. | | | | enraging drivers with road rage, and never become |
| Never confront agitated drivers or make eye contact | | | | involved in a physical confrontation with them. |
| with someone who's getting upset on the road. Even | | | | |