Try simple steps to avoid road rage

A reader recently sent the following request: “Dear Dr. LeCrone: My husband is generally speaking, a reasonable acting and pleasant individual. However, when he gets behind the wheel of the car he often “snaps” and turns into a monster. The aggressive driving he displays is what is known as “road rage”. His personality changes so that if he feels in any way violated by another driver or traffic condition he begins swearing, grips the steering wheel until his knuckles become white and he would probably shoot someone if he had gun. This condition is not good for his health, the other drivers or our family because our life is literally in his hands. Do any suggestions that might help him.”

Dear Road Rage Passenger. St. Basil, a fourth century religious figure called anger a kind of temporary madness. Individuals suffering from road rage are more likely to speed, tailgate, fail to yield, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right, make improper lane changes, run stop signs and lights, make hand and facial gestures, scream, honk, and flash their lights. Perhaps the worse thing you can do to a road rage prone individual is issue to them the universal sign of disdain, the middle finger salute.

Some of the following behaviors often trigger road rage:

• Being tailgated.
• Shining the high beam of headlights in their rear view mirror.
• Use of the horn, especially in traffic or at stop lights.
• Changing lanes without signaling.
• Blocking a passing lane.

Learning to manage anger, including road rage, is often a difficult task. This is especially true if the individual feels that their anger is warranted.

In some instances the most effective way to begin to control this problem is to take several moments prior to starting the car and mentally rehearsing a set of feelings and behaviors which don’t include road rage. After relaxing by taking several deep breaths, imagine and verbalize (out loud if necessary) the importance of driving safely in an often inherently dangerous situation. Further, practice stating to yourself that rude and reckless drivers are non-discriminating, uncivilized, individuals with impaired judgment and the temperament of a severely annoyed rattlesnake. Also, inconveniences such as traffic jams, roads under construction and other annoyances are no reason to endanger yourself or others by acting in an impulsive fashion.

By using this or similar techniques, your husband might decrease his frequency of road rage and thus relieve your anxiety.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2000