You Can Prevent Road Rage

VAN ZANDT, Texas. Road rage is incredibly dangerous. When emotions run high, drivers might be more distracted and they might take actions that can put themselves and others on the road at risk. What can you do to prevent road rage?

According to Edmunds, one of the best things you can do to keep your commute calm is to plan ahead. Road rage and stress often go hand in hand. You are more likely to get angry if a driver cut you off if you feel like you are running late. So, next time, leave a little earlier to get to work, and give yourself a little space timewise to get to your destination.

If you find yourself getting angry behind the wheel, take a few long deep breaths before doing anything. If you are playing loud, angry, or aggressive music, turn down the music or change the station to something more calming. Finally, resist the urge to retaliate. Cutting off another driver or tailgating is not only dangerous, it also puts you at risk of being negligent in the event of an accident.

Another way to diffuse the situation is to put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. This can be tough to do when your anger has gone from a 3 to a 9, but consider why another driver may have cut you off. He or she may also be running late to work. Maybe he or she is rushing to the hospital to be with an ill loved one. People behave badly for a variety of reasons and it has little to do with you.

Keep in mind that anger behind the wheel not only puts you and your passengers at risk, but it can also be bad for your heart and health in the long term. Take steps to cool down when you feel your anger rising to keep yourself safe and healthy.

Cars also create a barrier that makes it more likely that people will behave poorly. If a person cut you off at the store or bumped into you on a crowded street, would you yell, scream, or try to retaliate? Consider what you would do in a similar situation if you had to come face to face with the person who wronged you behind the wheel.

Are you prone to road rage? Edmunds reports that drivers who tailgate often, those who flash their lights at drivers in the right lane, and those who yell at other drivers are more prone to road rage. Other risk factors include speeding and weaving in and out of traffic to get to your destination faster.

According to Geico, common situations that lead to road rage are cases where a driver doesn’t allow another to pass, when a driver is cut off, or is behind someone driving too slowly. Other risk factors include being tailgated, being yelled at, or being annoyed at another driver for perceived rule breaking.

If you are being tailgated, avoid the urge to slam your brakes. Slow down, or change lanes. Drive defensively, not aggressively.

Finally, if you have been in an accident due to another driver’s road rage, you may have important rights under the law. The law offers protections for victims of road rage. You may be entitled to seek damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages. The Cooper Law Firm are car accident lawyers in Van Zandt, Texas who may be able to help you seek justice after a road rage incident. By holding drivers accountable for their actions, victims send a strong message that road rage will not be tolerated. Visit us at https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/ to learn more about how to protect your rights.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037