- Leave early. By leaving early to make a deadline you minimize your own stress with traffic. If there is heavy traffic you know that you will be on time. Also if you work a 9-5 job leaving early can avoid the traffic of rush hour.
- Limit distractions. The more distractions you have the more likely you are to become stressed. If you have kids, make sure they have something to entertain them in the car. Do not talk on cell phones, they are distracting and my lead to you to be to distracted to notice if you cut someone off or failed to signal.
- Try to stay away from the unknown. Drive you routes you know well if you can. This will ease anxiety and help you relax. If you are anxious you may be more inclined to give into aggressive driving to get you out of an unfamiliar situation.
- Avoid eye contact. If you do something that might upset another driver wave to apologize but try not to make eye contact. This can be seen as a sign of aggression by the other driver and puts you at risk since you are not paying attention to the road.
- Wave. If you accidentally cut someone off, wave and apology. Also if someone is courteous to you wave in appreciation, this may be the difference between that driver being stressed or not. Look at it as rewarding that driver for the help, your wave validates them and can improve their mood.
- Obey traffic laws. Disobeying traffic laws is aggressive driving. Even if you have no bad intentions you do not know how other motorist will react to you. By obey the law you are far less likely to draw the attention and ire of other motorists.
- Use your turn signal. This is one of the most common complaints drivers have. Not using a turn signal is a very minor offense that seems to draw universal anger. When in doubt use it.
- Slow down. If someone is tailgating you, slow down and move to a slower lane if possible. If not maintain your speed and lane, do not encourage the tailgater.
- Back down. Again if you feel you are being challenged by a tailgater or someone "pacing" you back down. Slow down and remove yourself from the situation. A bruised ego is far better the Road Rage.
- Relax. Learn relaxation techniques that you can use while driving. A soothing CD or breathing exercises. As long as they do not interfere with your ability to drive they can be very useful.
- Anger management. If relaxation techniques do not work and you find yourself driving aggressively or being drawn into situations that could result in Road Rage then perhaps professional help may be needed. This is in no way a reflection on you, rather a reflection on you wanting to become safer.
- Do not carry weapons. Weapons provide a false sense of security, the other driver may have one too. Also having a weapon makes it far more likely that you will use that weapon. The easiest way to eliminate the urge to use a weapon is to simply eliminate the weapon.
- Stay in the car. This is last for a reason, it is the final and most important technique. If you are involved in a Road Rage situation, stay in the car. Do not confront the attacker, do not try to talk with them. Simply get away from the situation. Stay in your car and drive to a well lit, well populated area. Your car is the best defense you have against Road Rage since it is the easiest method to get away from the problem with.
This list does not include every method to counter Road Rage, and it is entirely possible to be a victim of Road Rage even following this list. But if you follow the recommendations of this list you will put yourself in a far better position to not become a victim of Road Rage.
