We live in a fast paced, busy world where everybody needs to be somewhere five minutes ago. Sitting in traffic unable to move to your destination fast enough is frustrating. Perhaps you cut someone off to get ahead of them and then they shout obscenities and you reply with a rude gesture. Getting angry behind the wheel is road rage, and it can cause accidents, injuries, and above all, unnecessary stress. Your Pennsylvania Toyota dealership cares about its drivers and is offering advice on how to avoid road rage situations.
Don’t Cut People Off
A survey by AAA found this to be one of the most irritating behaviors to other drivers. Be certain that you have plenty of room before you merge in front of someone. Own up to it if you do cut someone off accidentally, and apologize with an appropriate gesture or wave.
Listen to Relaxing Music
If you find yourself getting upset, you may need to change the channel. Avoid loud aggressive music and opt for something more relaxing like jazz or easy listening music to help calm your mood. A comedy channel on satellite radio could do the trick too.
Avoid Eye Contact with an Aggressive Driver
If someone on the road is upsetting you or acting erratically, don’t look directly at them. Eye contact can be misinterpreted as a personal threat or challenge. Keep your eyes on the road and concentrate on getting to where you’re going safely.
Put Yourself in Their Shoes
Not every annoying of aggressive act on the road is a personal vendetta. Try to think of a reason why the driver is behaving that way before flipping out. That woman may be driving exactly the speed limit in front of you because she already has a speeding ticket. A person weaving in and out of lanes may be facing an emergency situation or heading to the hospital. Think of a time you may have behaved the exact same way, and remember no one is perfect before losing your cool.
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