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How to Avoid Road Rage While Driving

While commuting, feeling road rage is common, but it can put you in dangerous situations, so it’s essential to avoid it. Keep reading this post by AMSOIL: Synthetic Oil Outlet in Staten Island, NY, to learn how to do so.

Keep your car in the best condition possible to avoid delays that can cause road rage. The oil pros at Synthetic Oil Outlet can advise you on the best products to keep your engine in good condition. Call them at (718) 354-0548 or visit their online shop to see their full range of products.

Before Heading Out

Relax Before Driving

An essential part of avoiding road rage is by taking a moment to relax before driving. Before you even step out of the house and into your car, take a few minutes to relax and let go of any stressful thoughts. Being relaxed when driving is the key between letting an angry driver drive past you and engaging and escalating a conflict. A strategy to assess how tense you are is to go body part by body part and see how you feel. Follow these steps:

Focus on your hands as most people hold tension while driving there.
Then do so with your jaw and try to relax it.
Relax your shoulders and arms.
Lastly, relax your legs and feet.

Doing this can help you review where you’re storing tension and help you release it to be calmer when driving. Taking deep breaths throughout your commute is another great way to help you relax. Relaxation tip: Places like spas use pleasant smells to help you relax; try using the same logic with your car. Using a lavender or chamomile spray can help you feel more relaxed and in control when driving.

Leave With Enough Time

Leaving with enough to account for delays and accidents on the road is another way to keep your road rage in check. Feeling rushed about arriving on time to our destination can make road rage much harder to handle and can contribute to incidents escalating on the road. Next time you plan your commute, make sure to leave enough time to respect speed limits and the road rules. Tip: Check your maps app before leaving to ensure the road is clear from accidents and delays. If you notice more traffic than usual, try taking an alternate route.

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While Driving

Aggressive Driving Isn’t Personal

One of the first things to remember when you encounter someone driving aggressively is that it isn’t personal. If this is the case when you’re out driving and it usually triggers your road rage, remember to try and stay calm and if it comes to it, focus on deescalating the situation. Remember that if you feel unsafe, it’s always best to look for a police car on the road, drive directly to a police station, or call 911 to help you handle the situation.

Be Polite

The road and its many challenges can indeed be stressful to navigate. Lousy driving, heat, and rushing around are all the perfect ingredients for being in a bad mood, but an excellent way to counteract it is to be intentionally polite when on the road. Countering stress with politeness can quickly help diffuse tense situations. Being polite while driving is easy; here are some ideas:

Allow drivers to merge into your lane.
Pick the lane you want to take early.
Respect traffic queues.
Thank other drivers on the road.

These simple gestures can make a big difference in the mood on the road and can make it much less stressful.

Avoid Bad Drivers

Last but not least, avoiding bad drivers is essential to prevent road rage. Understandably, you might find yourself triggered by drivers who don’t respect the road rules while driving, but remember that sometimes impaired driving is due to minor distractions or human error. It’s best to steer clear of these drivers and go on your way instead of escalating the problem by engaging.