Dangerous, violent and/or rude behavior behind the wheel is known as “road rage.” Road rage can also include hitting another vehicle or person on purpose, firing a weapon from one vehicle at or into another, obscene gestures, yelling, shouting at other drivers or even throwing objects aimed at another vehicle or person.  Webster’s online officially defines road rage as:

A motorist’s uncontrolled anger that is usually provoked by another motorist’s irritating act and is expressed in aggressive or violent behavior.

While I’ve never been involved in anything coming close to road rage, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things I find highly annoying or extremely irritating when I’m behind the wheel. When someone directly pulls out in front of me, I tend to get a little annoyed.  When I’m in a right turn lane and the sign specifically says No Right Turn on Red and yet the car behind me is honking for me to run the light, I get rather irritated. Other things that tend to tick me off while driving:

• Tailgaters
• Imaginary Lane Drivers
• Cell Phone Talkers
• High Beam (or bright light) Drivers

The U.S. Highway Safety Administration states that tens of thousands of vehicle accidents each year are directly related or can be linked to aggressive driving. While we all have to share the road and it’s no secret some of us are better at it than others – if you suddenly find yourself on the receiving end of an angry driver, remember there are some steps you can take to prevent the situation from escalating:

1. Don’t Make Eye Contact
Ignore the behavior of an enraged driver.  You shouldn’t care what a complete stranger thinks about you.

2. Never Get Out of Your Vehicle
If you’re being threatened or the other motorist wants you to pull over, don’t do it.  Roll up your windows, lock your doors and if have a cell phone, call the police.  Make sure to get the license plate number of the offending driver.

3. Keep Moving
Usually when we continue driving, the offending motorist will eventually turn off at an exit or find his destination.

4. If Being Tailgated, Let the Other Driver Pass You
There’s no reason to keep speeding up just because the driver behind you is impatient.  As long as you’re going the speed limit, move over and let them pass.  I’ve went as far as pulling over into a parking lot just to let the driver behind me buzz on past and move on down the road. I’m not getting rear-ended because someone behind me is in a big hurry.

5. Apologize From Your Vehicle
If you feel you’re in the wrong and want to apologize, do so from your vehicle by mouthing the words, I’m sorry. 

6. Don’t Return Obscene Gestures or Retaliate
When someone is waving their arms, yelling, screaming and generally throwing a fit, don’t do the same thing; it will only make things worse.  Instead, roll up your windows, lock your doors and look straight ahead.  Turn on the radio, pop in a CD and keep moving.

7. Don’t Take It Personally
Chances are if it’s not you, it’ll be someone else you just happen to be in a bad place for a few bad minutes.  Once the light turns green or you can leave the scene, do so immediately; don’t stick around.

8. Avoid Being a Victim
If you’re involved in an accident and the other motorist is in a rage, stay calm, remain in your vehicle, roll up your windows, lock your doors and don’t emerge until the police arrive.

9. Don’t Panic
Remember to stay focused on your driving.  If someone is cutting you off, swerving in and out of traffic, racing to keep up with you in the other lane or driving erratically enough to cause an accident, stay calm and keep focused on the road ahead.  If their driving is putting the lives of others in jeopardy or you believe they could be driving under the influence, get their license plate number and use your cell phone to call police.

10. Don’t Go Home
If you’re being followed, the worst thing to do is drive home.  The last thing you want is a raging motorist to know where you live.  Instead, drive to a police department, fire station or Sherriff’s department.  Chances are the other motorist will keep on driving once they realize where you’re headed. If they happen to follow you to one of these destinations and you’re afraid to exit your vehicle and don’t have a cell phone to call inside, roll up the windows, lock the doors and honk the horn continuously until someone from one of these locations comes to your aid.

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