According to recent statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving and road rage. As tragic as these statistics are, the real tragedy is that all incidences of road rage are avoidable. It’s simply a matter of drivers being made to know that driving isn’t simply about how skilled one is at operating a motor vehicle; it is also about having the temperament to deal with difficult people and situations. One of the things our private driving lessons in Beaverton, Oregon teaches drivers is courtesy, which goes a long way in preventing road rage incidences which unfortunately have been known to result in fatalities. Other ways to avoid road rage include:
Tips for Avoiding Road Rage
- Getting enough sleep before starting out: According to the National Sleep Foundation, people should strive to get 8 hours of sleep each night. This relates to drivers because sleepiness is known to contribute to feelings of annoyance, resentment and even anger.
- Planning ahead: Give yourself more than enough time to get to your destination. Plan on having to do things such as get gas, shop, pick up the kids and navigate unexpected traffic construction delays.
- Avoiding eye contact with angry drivers: Always concede the possibility that if you are angered by a particular situation e.g., being cut off, that someone else may be angrier. This hypothetical driver could be on the verge of violence for which making eye contact may signal that you are ready for a confrontation.
- Letting the aggressive drivers have the right of way: Yielding the right of way to someone even if it is not theirs, could help to prevent a deadly confrontation.
- Practicing kindness: Exercise simple courtesies such as apologizing when you are in the wrong or letting someone merge when they are attempting to enter highway traffic. These simple steps can go a long way in helping to create a cooperative atmosphere on the roadways.
Of course, there are times when you may become the victim of road rage. Try to handle such occurrences by:
- Practicing defensive driving
- Calling the police if things get out of hand
- Remaining in your vehicle
- Not going straight home. Someone may decide to follow you after a road rage incident. (It has happened before.)
None of us are immune from losing our tempers from time to time but by using some planning, patience and common sense we can avoid becoming a part of some pretty alarming statistics. Much of it starts with knowledge of the road, technical ability and driver courtesy. We can teach you all these things with our Drivers Ed private lessons in Beaverton Oregon.