TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013
Road rage happens, but don't let it happen to you.
Have you ever caught yourself tailgating the vehicle in front of you? What about honking your horn in a repetitive fashion, trying to annoy the vehicles around you?
Road rage is a dangerous problem Americans face while on the road. More and more people are becoming impatient on the road, causing frustrations to rise and accidents to happen. The next time you find yourself in a road rage situation, calm down, breathe and count to ten. Be aware of your surroundings and keep calm.
We all share the road and are responsible for making it a safe place to commute. When you get angry behind the wheel, you feel invincible. As the rage courses through your veins, remember to realize you are not only putting the person in front or behind you in jeopardy, but all of the people around you. Pedestrians, passengers, children, buildings, are all put in jeopardy when you selfishly let anger take over.
You can prevent road rage by:
- Drive safely. You may not always be the driver with road rage, it could be the vehicle behind you. Avoid the situation by being aware of your surroundings and making safe decisions.
- Let go of your anger. Allowing your anger to build up won't benefit anyone and only put yourself and those around you in danger. As Buddha put it, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
- Put yourself in their car. Imagine that driver you just flipped off is your mother, or your teenage son who just got their license and is shaking behind the wheel. Look at your situation from all angles. Is it really worth getting upset about?
If you need help dealing with road rage or have found yourself in a road rage situation, call Bob and Harriet Kipper of KIAC Insurance 760-471-2200.