As a driver, you may have had times when you experienced frustration or anger because of traffic or another driver. Road rage goes beyond typical feelings of annoyance and can translate to aggressive driving, which is a hazard to you and others on the road.
When around drivers operating under road rage, it is important to take certain safety precautions.
1. Stay a safe distance away
According to Travelers Risk Control, the National Safety Council advises that you maintain a distance of a three-second gap between you and the vehicle in front of you. For an aggressive driver, you may need to have twice or even thrice that distance. Motor operators who allow their road rage to dictate their actions often drive erratically, breaking traffic laws, swerving, tailgating and trying to pass in areas they should not. This raises the chances of them becoming involved in a wreck. The extra space gives you more time to react and avoid a crash yourself if the aggressive driver suddenly stops or crashes.
2. Avoid interaction
Try not to engage with the aggressive driver. Because he or she may be irrational, even looking at them may make them view you as displaying aggression towards him or her, causing him or her to react even more aggressively. Even if he or she taunts you or makes rude comments, do not retaliate or respond, as this may only escalate the situation.
3. Report the driver
If you consider the driver a danger, you need to report him or her to the proper authorities. This includes if he or she begins to follow you; in this case, do not pull over until you reach a safe location, such as a police station, and do not immediately exit your vehicle since there have been cases where aggressive drivers assaulted individuals they followed, sometimes with weapons.
While a little anger on the road is not uncommon or necessarily bad, when it causes drivers to drive in an unsafe manner, it creates danger for everyone on the road. By displaying caution when driving, you help keep yourself and others safer.
