Dealing With Road Rage

On November 8, 2005, Jason Reynolds apparently found the Toyota 4-Runner in front of him too slow. Reynolds zoomed past, cut in front of the offending vehicle, and braked suddenly. The driver of the 4-Runner, Kevin Norman, lost control. He lurched across the median, flipped over, and crashed into a Ford Explorer. Norman and the Explorer's driver, Greg Boss, were killed instantly.Such is the price of road rage. So far, we've talked aboutmaintaing your vehicle properly . Let's take the time to discuss using it appropriately.What is Road Rage?Reynolds was unremorseful during his sentencing hearing, when he was given two life terms for first-degree murder by Arapahoe County district judge Carlos Samour. "Mr. Reynolds, you might as well have been standing in the middle of the highway with a gun pointed at people. You used your car as a weapon, and you played Russian roulette," said Samour. To a certain degree, we can't control the reactions of other drivers on the road. But we have power over ourselves.The National Highway Traffic Safety Association defines road rage as "an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or an assault precipitated by an incident that occurred on a roadway". In other words, road rage is an intentional act of violence on the road. "Aggressive driving" is considered a misdemeanor, while "road rage" is a criminal offense; the former is simple carelessness, the latter a deliberate act.How Can You Avoid Road Rage?The mantra is simple, and is worth repeating over and over again: back off and calm down. Whether or not a nearby driver is driving aggressively because of your actions, or you actually find yourself driving aggressively, slowing down and learning to let go is the key to defusing potential road rage situations.Besides, what may seem like an affront to your honor may actually be a harmless mistake. Give others the benefit of the doubt. What may seem so obvious to you may not be for others, and the last thing you want to do is try to teach them a lesson with your two-ton mass of metal.If you notice someone else driving aggressively, be aware of what they might do and try to anticipate their actions. Consider these potential road-ragers are hazards. Slow down to distance yourself from them, and create space Your goal is to prevent an accident, and to prepare yourself for any danger an aggressive driver may create.Lastly, plan your trips properly. Many factors lead to road rage, such traffic, bad weather, and stress. But nothing escalates a driver than a need to beat the clock. Give yourself enough time to get to your destination, and you won't find yourself driving aggressively to get there as soon as possible.So, to recap:Back off and calm downGive others the benefit of the doubtBe aware of others and try to anticipate their actionsGive yourself enough time to get to your destinationIt's gratifying to give in to aggression and perhaps even road rage. But nothing can make up for the potential loss of human life. So take it easy out there guys!