Anger will likely affect the way you drive: how you react, how quickly you notice things and respond to them.
Everybody knows that frustration and driving almost come as a package deal in some situations. But that frustration can quickly turn into anger, and driving on this emotion is almost surely a recipe for disaster.
Road rage will likely affect the way you drive: how you react, how quickly you notice things and respond to them, etc. If you’re not careful, that anger will translate into aggressive driving, which is estimated to be responsible for around 66% of motor vehicle crash fatalities.
Here are some tips on how to keep your cool while behind the wheel.
It’s Not Just You
One key thing to remember in a traffic jam or another instance where you feel frustrated behind the wheel is that you’re not alone in this. Other drivers are going through the same or similar feelings, and if everyone acted on them, chaos would likely ensure.
It’s Not Personal
A lot of people tend to feel personally offended when a driver does something aggravating like cutting you off or stealing the parking spot you had your eyes on. However, the chances of that actually being true are slim.
Breathe
If you feel like you’re reaching a boiling point, try to manually control your breath to calm yourself down. Even something as simple as counting to ten before you act can give you time to cool off and avoid making a mistake because of anger.
Consider Something Else Might Be Going on
Maybe you’re not only angry behind the wheel. In some cases, the emotional turmoil in your daily life can be too much, and you find yourself pouring all your frustration while behind the wheel, even if the situation doesn’t completely warrant it. If that sounds like something you’re going through, consider talking to a therapist.
The Dark Side of Road Rage
Giving in to the anger you feel while driving can potentially have devastating consequences, even fatalities. Some estimates claim that around 37% of aggressive driving incidents involve a firearm. When people are not in control of their emotions when they drive, some common scenarios can occur:
- Mistakes while driving
- Retributions
- Fights
- Running another vehicle off the road
A lot of these scenarios can have fatal endings, making you liable for damages or worse. If your actions caused someone’s death, you can even expect some jail time. No judge or insurance company will take any leniency on you just because you claim you were blinded by rage.
Get in Touch with a Car Accident Lawyer
If another driver is guilty of road rage and caused you harm, then you can legally ask for compensation. Work with an experienced St. Louis auto accident lawyer for help in acquiring it and protecting your legal rights.
Road rage is not a defense strategy. The driver should have been more careful with how they behaved while behind the wheel, no matter how frustrated they felt. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.