Are You Guilty of Aggressive Driving? Keep Your Cool on the Road!

Driving is a way of life; it represents our freedom just as much as it can represent a “chain” to our daily commute. We’ve all heard, or even seen, episodes of “road rage” or aggressive driving, and maybe we’ve even gotten a little hot under the collar during a drive. Aggressive driving can lead to reckless driving, and nobody wants to really be the cause of a highway accident out of rage. Instead, try out the following tips to keep your cool while driving:

• Don’t sweat the seconds. If you really measure the time you’re making up by weaving in and out of traffic versus calmly following the road rules, you’re only “gaining” a few minutes, and could be losing much more by causing a wreck.
• Let it be. Even if the car next to you is driving erratically, that doesn’t mean you have to, also. Besides, you don’t know if they may be driving under the influence, so just keep calm and carry on.
• Speaking of drinking… don’t drink and drive. Too much alcohol is dangerous for any driver, and it can increase your level of aggression. Plus, you could end up with a DUI, car breathalyzer or ignition interlock – a frustration that is always best to avoid.

Of course driving can be frustrating, but, aggressive driving can be deadly. Instead of trying to beat the pack or get back at another driver’s provocations, take some deep breaths and relax. Put on some music that keeps you calm, find a happy place and remember that you cannot control what happens on the road, but you sure can control how you react. There’s no reason to risk your life or the lives of others, and once you get to your destination safely, you get to “win” the race without running into any further difficulties.