DE 17

SECTION: How to Avoid Angering Others

As a driver, you must avoid behaviors likely to anger others or provoke them to act aggressively. A careless or reckless mistake may cause a tense or stressed driver to lose control of his or her emotions. Remember, aggressive drivers are generally impatient, insistent on having their own way, and critical both of themselves and others. If you make a driving error, even accidentally, it's possible the other driver will try to pick a fight with you. Impeding a driver's path is one of the surest ways to aggravate him or her: Don't drive more slowly than cars behind you. Even if you're driving 60 mph in a 60 mph zone, other drivers seeking to travel faster may build up behind you. Move to the side to let others pass, or speed up if it is safe and legal to do so. Don't speed up, slow down, or slam your brakes to prevent someone from passing or entering your lane. Don't slow down immediately after passing another car. Don't cut into another driver's lane. Always signal your intentions to change lanes and only move over when it's safe. Don't wait at a green light if it's safe to proceed. However, if there's someone in the intersection or crosswalk, don't proceed even if drivers behind you are honking at you. Don't wait to turn right at a red light if it's safe and legal to turn. Don't stop in the middle of the roadway to talk to a pedestrian or other road user or to ask for directions. In general, you should avoid blocking or impeding traffic in any way unless you'd have to perform an unsafe or illegal action to allow others to proceed. Even if you're not in a hurry, you should always proceed in a timely manner so that drivers behind you don't become frustrated and tempted to break the law. Remember to drive in the rightmost lane if you're traveling slower than the flow of traffic. Never drive slowly in the left lane. Drivers tend to be especially irritated when others fail to obey traffic control devices, even if they aren't personally endangered by the violation. Don't run red lights or rush through yellow lights. Always come to a full stop at a STOP sign. Don't turn in places where turning is not permitted. Stay inside the lines: don't pass others by crossing double solid yellow lines or change lanes across a solid white line Other road users are also likely to become annoyed or angered by: Speeding more than 10 mph over the limit Cruising in a lane designated for passing Failing to activate or deactivate your turn signal when appropriate Failing to yield the right-of-way Tailgating Weaving between lanes Taking up more than one parking space Double parking It's not hard to figure out why drivers can become so angered by another driver's mistakes: traffic violations force them into a situation where they have to act quickly to avoid a collision. When you endanger another driver, don't be surprised if he or she tries to retaliate with aggressive behavior. Remember that other drivers are actual people who may become deeply upset if they feel that their lives are in danger. Driving in an inattentive or overly intrusive way can also increase other drivers' anxiety. If you're driving in a way that's not immediately dangerous but which makes others overly aware of your presence, they may become more tense and more likely to lash out. An ideal driver is one that other road users are unlikely to notice for more than a moment. If you're not focusing enough on your own driving, or deliberately calling attention to yourself, you may find yourself the subject of unwanted attention. Don't let yourself be distracted by your cell phone, the driving environment, eating or drinking, or anything else. Don't stray from your lane into another driver's operating space. Don't honk unnecessarily or make rude gestures in response to others' mistakes. Don't play music loud enough for others to hear it. Don't attach bumper stickers to your car likely to offend drivers who don't share your opinions or sense of humor. Don't use your high beams when they're unnecessary or you're approaching another driver. Don't be oblivious when another driver wants to pass you. The best way to avoid angering others is to be conscientious and aware of how your actions can affect others. Drivers will find it much easier to remain calm if they don't have to worry about other drivers impeding, annoying, or endangering them. Every action you take when you're on the road should be governed by the golden rule of driving: always treat other drivers the way you want to be treated. By doing so, you'll make the road safer for yourself and everyone sharing it with you.

SECTION: Keeping Your Anger in Check

Most drivers have a "Do as I say, not as I do" attitude towards aggressive driving. As we discussed earlier, while most drivers consider aggressive driving to be serious problem, many continue to demonstrate aggressive behaviors when they drive. Everyone on the road has the responsibility to avoid driving aggressively. Not only does it endanger other drivers directly, but it also increases the chances that other drivers will act even more aggressively in response. No matter how genial a disposition you normally have, the pressures of driving can easily turn you into an aggressive driver without you even realizing it! The extreme emotions that cause a driver to act aggressively also tend to blind the driver to the fact that he or she is acting out of character. When your emotions are in the driver's seat, it's easy to forget everything you've learned about driving safely! Avoid getting frustrated even if you're running late, stuck in traffic, or irritated by another person's disrespectful driving. Be patient when other drivers make mistakes. Remember, you're not the only person on the road. When you're stuck in traffic, so is everyone else around you, and they probably have places to be just as urgently as you. If you drive aggressively, you're likely to annoy other drivers who have managed to avoid becoming aggravated by the exact same situation. Use the following strategies to avoid becoming aggravated on the road: Make sure the temperature inside your car isn't too hot, as this can make you quicker to anger, as well as cause drowsiness. Keep a light but firm grip on the steering wheel. You may make yourself feel more tense when you unconsciously grip the wheel tightly. Make sure you're not clenching your teeth, as this can also make you feel tenser. Listening to some of your favorite music at a safe volume can help take your mind off your emotions. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated, take some deep breaths. Even if you feel like you have to blow off some steam, remind yourself that it's wiser to remain calm as long as you're behind the wheel. When you see a driver who appears to be tense or agitated, treat him or her with extra courtesy rather than react out of irritation. If a flustered driver wants to enter your lane, give him or her plenty of space. A single act of courtesy is often enough to remind other drivers that nobody's out to get them and that they also have an obligation to drive safely. Moreover, by helping a driver who's more anxious than you are, you can feel better about yourself and take your mind off your own frustrations. Driving is a task that requires maturity and patience. Regard for the safety of other people and regard for the law can't be forced upon you. If you refuse to have respect for the law and compassion for other human beings, that's your choice. However, you must also recognize that if you make that choice, you'll be responsible for any consequences that result from it. Remember, the law exists to protect you. Any time you disregard the law, you endanger yourself at least as much as you endanger anyone else. It's very likely that the person most seriously injured in a collision caused by your behavior will be you. Even if you escape unharmed, there are severe financial, legal, social, and physical consequences to aggressive driving and road rage. You may be convicted of assault or manslaughter and sentenced to years in prison. Your temporary anonymity won't protect you if you cause a collision. You'll be forced to reveal your name, license number, and insurance policy number to the police and the other driver, and you'll be fully accountable for any damage or injury you cause. If you value your anonymity, calm down and avoid unsafe actions when you're behind the wheel. You may end up with more publicity than you bargained for if you cause a collision: your name may appear in your local newspaper's crime blotter, or even among its obituaries. One of the best ways to avoid aggressive driving is to be prepared before you even get into your car. If you feel offended, angry, or emotional when you have to drive, figure out ahead of time how you are going to remain focused on the driving task and avoid overreacting to frustrations on the road. Practice techniques to help you stay calm in potentially dangerous situations. Learn to take deep breaths, slow down, and stay away from aggressive drivers when you're feeling tense. If you're feeling stressed or angry before driving: Try taking a walk while breathing deeply. Talk to a friend or family member to help you work out your emotions or at least take your mind off them. Close your eyes, count backwards from ten, and think about the things in life you'd miss if you were seriously injured or killed in a collision. If you can't calm down, don't drive. It's never worth risking your life. Always strive for the following attitudes when you're on the road: Tolerance for other road users Forgiveness and a recognition that everyone makes mistakes A helpful and courteous attitude towards every driver A sense of humor It's no fun to drive when you're angry! By adopting a positive attitude, you'll make driving a happier, calmer, and safe experience for yourself, your passengers, and everyone else on the road.

SECTION: Common Aggressive Driving Behaviors

As you scan the road and observe the actions of others, watch for drivers acting aggressively and likely to endanger you. If you don't pay attention, you won't be able to protect yourself. Remember, any driver you see committing two or more violations likely to result in a collision, or one violation that requires an immediate defensive action from another driver, is an aggressive driver and should be avoided. Resist the temptation to react to these drivers. Dangerous driving behaviors that are indicative of aggressive drivers include: Speeding, especially when traffic is slowed Weaving between lanes or changing lanes frequently Suddenly accelerating, braking, or changing lanes, especially when passing another vehicle Failing to signal when turning or changing lanes Tailgating, especially when done repeatedly or when combined with honking Blocking another vehicle attempting to change lanes or merge Honking excessively, often at road users who are driving safely Ignoring traffic control devices, including running red lights and stop signs, failing to obey turn lane markings, and changing lanes across solid lines Aggressive drivers are more likely to ignore right-of-way rules that require them to yield to someone else. Rather than anticipating the need to stop and slowing gradually, these drivers would rather endanger others and force them to stop suddenly. Aggressive drivers are especially likely to disregard pedestrians and bicyclists since they know that vulnerable road users are more endangered by the threat of a collision and will have no choice but to get out of their way. Aggressive drivers may actively challenge or harass others by: Revving their engine while tailgating to pressure another driver to speed up or move over Indicating their disapproval towards another driver with a hostile stare Yelling, making insulting gestures, or becoming physically violent Braking in front of a tailgater or entering a lane of traffic in front of another driver and stopping suddenly, a practice known as brake checking

SECTION: The Risks of Road Rage

Every driver is endangered by aggressive behavior. As the roads become more crowded and more people let their emotions get the best of them, more people are dying as the result of road rage. The exact number of collisions caused by aggressive driving is difficult to determine because it involves the disposition of the driver rather than a specific set of mistakes that can be measured. However, recent research suggests that aggressive driving is responsible for a significant number of fatalities. According to the NHTSA, in 2013, 9,613 fatal crashes, almost 30% of all fatal crashes, involved speeding, the most common aggressive driving behavior. A recent study conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) estimated that over 55% of fatal collisions involved one or more aggressive driving behaviors. This study also found that while 78% of drivers think that aggressive driving is a serious or very serious problem, many of the same drivers admitted to aggressive driving of their own. For instance, almost half these respondents admitted to speeding 15 mph over the limit within 30 days of the survey. Many drivers consider aggressive driving to be the most serious safety issue they face on the road. AAA has suggested that 40% of people think aggressive driving is the most dangerous behavior on the road, while only 33% think that driving under the influence is the most dangerous. The majority of aggressive drivers are male and between 18 and 26 years old. Aggressive drivers involved in collisions are frequently experiencing personal problems at the time of the crash. Due to the risks associated with aggressive driving, anyone caught driving in an aggressive way can have their driving privilege suspended or revoked for a long time. Depending on the severity of the offense, aggressive drivers may also face large fines and other penalties. Drivers who commit road rage on another motor vehicle, a bicyclist, or a pedestrian are guilty of criminal assault and may receive an extended jail sentence.

TOPIC: Emotions and the Driving Task SECTION: Avoiding Extreme Emotions

Every person is an emotional being. Our emotions influence every thought we have and every action we perform. Indeed, if you try to suppress them, you'll find yourself more affected by your emotions than ever! Driving under the influence of intense emotions can have severe consequences. Anger, fear, anxiety, depression, discouragement, sorrow, and even excitement have the potential to make you an unsafe driver. Your decisions as a driver will be strongly influenced by your emotional state. If you don't have the right attitude, you're less likely to notice everything important in the driving environment and more likely to overreact and take unnecessary risks in response to minor annoyances. To be a safe driver, you must consciously choose to stay relaxed, focus on the task at hand, and set aside any emotional preoccupations for as long as you're behind the wheel. You're more likely to make unsafe decisions if you feel: Negativity towards others Overconfidence in your own driving abilities Insecure about driving Impatience Aggression Anxiety Excessive happiness Love or infatuation Exaggerated emotional sensitivity A lack of self-control Grief You may find it hard to believe that every one of these attitudes has the potential to impair your driving. How could overconfidence or excitement actually hurt anybody? our emotions can affect the mental skills you need to drive safely. Emotional drivers may: Be unable to think clearly and make decisions quickly Fixate on situations not related to the immediate task of driving Take out their feelings on other drivers Ignore or fail to recognize the degree of risk associated with their actions Pay only slight attention to the driving environment Process information in an erratic or inconsistent way To ensure your safety on the road, your concentration must be focused exclusively on driving. Emotional distraction can impair your driving as much as a physical impairment, fatigue, or intoxication. Avoid driving when you are: Emotionally distressed by a personal or professional situation Experiencing a high degree of tension or anxiety Unable to focus your attention on situations relevant to driving More susceptible to losing focus when emotional due to inexperience When you're experiencing intense emotions, you're more likely to respond drastically to a situation. If you enter your car angry, you may respond more aggressively when you encounter frustrating behaviors or conditions on the road. If you enter your car anxious, you may hesitate to act or be excessively cautious, confusing and frustrating other drivers. If you enter your car bubbling over with enthusiasm, you may not drive with the necessary amount of caution and may see your actions as less risky than they are.

SECTION: Staying Positive on the Road

If you're overly emotional, you won't be able to perceive or react to changes within the driving environment. To drive safely, you must be: Emotionally stable and unlikely to overreact Able to make complex, split-second decisions in response to road conditions and traffic Considerate of others Able to recognize and perform the most appropriate action Able to use good judgment Attentive to the driving task Patient and calm in stressful driving conditions If you're preoccupied with your own thoughts and mentally dealing with business, school, or family problems while driving, you are adding to your total cognitive workload. As a result, you may make poor driving decisions, take more risks, react more slowly to hazards, and have difficulty judging the speed and distance of oncoming traffic. Some strategies for reducing the influence of emotions on your driving include: Knowing when you're not emotionally fit to drive and taking a break or asking for the help of another driver Remembering that other drivers are just as likely to have a bad day as you and treating their mistakes with patience Identifying situations likely to cause you emotional stress and avoiding them when possible Understanding that your emotions and the actions they cause can be contagious, increasing the stress of others Refusing to get upset at another person, even if you're annoyed by something they've done You can decrease the stress you feel behind wheel by adopting a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle. Learn to express your feelings in appropriate ways and calm yourself when you're feeling anxious. Share your ups and downs with a parent or close friend. By getting plenty of exercise, sleeping at least eight hours every night, eating properly, and liking who you are, you'll be better able to drive safely. Always decide on a route in advance so you can avoid situations likely to agitate you, especially if you're emotionally preoccupied.

MODULE: Unit 17: Driver Stress and Road Rage TOPIC: The Need for Emotional Fitness SECTION: Developing a Healthy Attitude

No matter how prepared you are when you first start driving, nothing can prepare you for the actual feeling of being behind the wheel. When you first get in the driver's seat, you may feel anxiety, insecurity, exhilaration, nervousness, empowerment, or some other emotion that can potentially influence the way you drive. Only by developing reduced-risk driving practices and a good attitude towards other road users will you be prepared to minimize the effects of these emotions. It's essential that you have a positive attitude when you get behind the wheel. A novice driver who's willing to be cautious and courteous is generally less dangerous than someone who's received plenty of training but chooses to disregard it whenever he or she feels like it. This unit will help you become conscious of how your choices are influenced by your emotions. The attitude you adopt will determine whether you're "on task" or "at risk." A positive driving attitude consists of courtesy, consideration for others, alertness, good judgment, foresight, and a willingness to act responsibly. You must be motivated to learn how best to respond to driving risks, and just as motivated to apply what you've learned when you're on the road. Dangerous driving attitudes include anger, egotism, exhibitionism, inattentiveness, emotional instability, and irresponsibility. You must learn to recognize these attitudes in yourself so you can consciously avoid them when you drive.

SECTION: Sources of Driving Stress

One of the emotions that affects drivers most is stress. Stress is a feeling of agitation or anxiety that typically occurs when a person feels overwhelmed by the demands placed on him or her. Driving is considered a stressful activity because it frequently requires you to notice, remember, and formulate responses to multiple situations at the same time. If you're already stressed when you get behind the wheel, you may not be able to respond safely to the additional stresses of driving. Often, stress can motivate you to act or improve how well you perform essential tasks. For instance, stress may make you study harder for an exam or sharpen your concentration when you're competing in a sporting event. Nevertheless, too much stress can affect your mood, your concentration, and your judgment. If you let yourself become stressed while driving, you may react inappropriately and cause a collision. Different people respond to stress in different ways, all of which can result in unsafe driving. Under stress, you may become: Angry or agitated, causing you to speed, take unnecessary risks, weave between lanes, or antagonize others Withdrawn or depressed, causing you to space out, ignore the driving environment, and react lethargically to situations on the road Frozen with indecision, causing you to respond to hazards inadequately The key to dealing with stress is learning to recognize when you're stressed, what the causes of the stress are, and how you typically respond when you feel stressed. By understanding your stress, you'll be better able to minimize its influence on your driving and compensate for its affects. You'll also be able to recognize when you shouldn't be driving in the first place. On the next few slides, we'll discuss some common causes of driver stress. Passengers While the presence of passengers can often make driving easier, it can sometimes make you feel more pressured: You may feel compelled to show off by speeding or taking added risks. Passengers may try to attract your attention while you're trying to focus on the road. You may unconsciously act differently in the presence of friends or family members. You may feel tenser in dangerous situations because you feel added responsibility for the safety of your passengers. Passengers may comment on the driving situation or second guess your decisions, increasing your anxiety, especially when you're already stressed by driving. Remember, you may not drive with more than one passenger under 21 until you've completed Phase Two of the Graduated Drivers License Program. Running Late When you get a late start and you're under pressure to get to school or work on time, it's natural to try to make up the time on the way. If you feel rushed, remind yourself that the consequences for arriving late will never be as bad as the consequences of a deadly collision. Don't speed, cut corners, or weave through traffic when you're running late. At best, you'll only save a few minutes anyway. Since you're already going to be late, you might as well relax and enjoy the ride. Heavy Traffic or Bad Weather Any time you have more decisions to make and more hazards to deal with, you're likely to feel more stressed. As a result, road work and bad weather, traffic, and road conditions can be very stressful, especially if you're in a hurry. In these situations, always remember that there's nothing you can do to change the situation. If possible, use an alternate route with better conditions. If not, just try to concentrate on the road and drive in a safe and courteous manner. Parking Because it involves dealing with pedestrians, drivers entering or exiting the road, and other road users, searching for a safe place to park can be stressful. When there are few parking spots available, you may feel increasingly frustrated the longer it takes to find a place to park. Stress isn't going to make more parking spots appear. Getting upset over situations you have no control over will only make you less able to drive safely. Getting Lost Becoming disoriented can be especially stressful for drivers. When you're lost, each decision you make can make the problem even worse, increasing your stress as you get farther and farther away from a place you're familiar with. You may stop paying attention to other drivers or how you're controlling your own vehicle as you try to identify a way back to a known road. When you're planning to drive in an unfamiliar area, plan your trip ahead of time. Always keep maps in your car so you can find your way back when you get lost.

SECTION: Dealing with Negative Influences

One reason that novice drivers have difficulty assessing their attitude and identifying their own poor driving habits is because their opinions of driving have been shaped by others their entire life. Inherited attitudes can be hard to recognize and equally hard to correct. It's essential that you identify poor driving habits and start to substitute the appropriate behaviors as soon as possible. Each of the following can influence how you drive: A parent may tend to get frustrated on the road, take his or her aggression out on other drivers, or fail to devote his or her attention to the driving task. Your peers may drive recklessly, show off to their friends, or simply have immature driving habits. Depictions of driving in the media may make risky driving behaviors look less dangerous than they really are and promote a desire to look "cool" while driving. As a result of these influences, you may already feel that certain behaviors are normal and proper, even if you've been taught otherwise. You must learn to counter these influences and adopt an appropriate driving attitude. During your behind-the-wheel lessons, practice commentary driving with your instructor by discussing what you see, what you're thinking, and what you're planning to do as you drive. A professional instructor can identify any dangerous attitudes or poor habits you have and help you develop safe ones to replace them. If you rely solely on your parents and peers to teach you to drive, you may pick up some of their bad habits without even realizing it. While practice is important, if you're not careful it can just as easily reinforce bad habits as good ones! When you identify a poor driving habit, you must determine the best way to correct that behavior and continuously practice the right way to drive until it becomes automatic. Proper driving techniques will only become second nature if you practice them repeatedly. Remember that as you become used to driving, even good driving habits can deteriorate. As you gain experience, continue to monitor your driving attitude and correct any unsafe habits you begin to develop.

SECTION: The Physical Effects of Emotion

Stress, anger, and other intense emotions can impact your physical state in ways that can be detrimental to your ability to drive safely. These include: Increasing your heart rate and respiration Slowing your metabolism and the process of digestion Producing adrenaline in anticipation of a conflict Increasing the presence of coagulants in your blood, causing your blood pressure to rise and restricting your circulation Inducing nausea, perspiration, and a feeling of exhaustion As we discussed in the previous unit, physical impairments can distract you from driving and decrease your ability to control your car properly. Additionally, if you can't get your emotions under control, they can have a significant long-term effect on your health. Prolonged or repeated feelings of stress can lead to back and stomach pain, insomnia, weight fluctuations, heart palpitations, and a weakened immune system. Moreover, your decision-making ability will be impaired, making you more likely to act in a risky manner when you're on the road.

SECTION: The Causes of Aggressive Driving

Traffic volume, personal and professional stress, immature driving attitudes, and the normalization of disrespectful behavior in society have all contributed to making aggressive and violent behavior more common on the road. Remember, emotions can be contagious. The unfortunate fact is, as more drivers act aggressively, others begin to see such behavior as normal and necessary to compete with others on the road. Different people are provoked by different things. For instance, some people are more likely to drive aggressively in certain conditions (such as rainy weather or at night). Others may overreact when another driver acts in a careless way. While some people are more likely to drive aggressively than others, anyone can become an aggressive driver in the right circumstances. Always remember to monitor your mood: you may become irritated gradually and not realize that you're driving aggressively until it gets you into trouble! Some personality traits naturally predispose a person to drive aggressively. A common personality trait among aggressive drivers is egotism—a feeling that no one else matters as much as oneself. Egotistical people generally act as though rules don't apply to them. An egotistical driver is more likely to speed and drive in an unsafe way, and is less likely to yield the right-of-way, make room for merging vehicles, or let other drivers pass. People who feel contempt or hostility for other people are also more likely to drive aggressively. These negative feelings can be directed in many different ways: at other drivers in general, at drivers of another race, culture, or gender, at older drivers, or at some other arbitrary group of drivers. A driver's hostility may also be directed at society in general. For instance, some drivers may fail to obey traffic signs and road rules because of their attitude towards the law. Many drivers have an immature attitude or lack appropriate values and boundaries. Such drivers may be compulsive and competitive and will frequently make decisions without considering them fully. Because these drivers are less able to regulate their mood and may not understand how to deal with others courteously, they can be driven to unchecked anger by the stresses of the road. If you have a disposition that makes you more likely to drive aggressively, it's essential that you recognize this fact and take any necessary actions to avoid putting others at risk. Of course, not all personality traits can be changed and not all dispositions that could lead to aggressive driving are necessarily bad in all situations. A responsible driving attitude simply requires that you don't let your emotions make your decisions for you when you're behind the wheel. If you don't think you can do that, you shouldn't drive. A bad mood can make even people who are normally calm and cautious drive aggressively: No matter what its cause, anger is one of the most dangerous emotions to feel on the road. If it becomes focused on another driver, anger can quickly turn into road rage. Stress can be distracting and cause you to overreact to small problems. When confronted with additional stressful situations on the road, you may snap. If you're feeling rushed and impatient, you may feel that you don't have time for courtesy, especially if the roads are congested. You may take dangerous shortcuts that won't actually save you much time, endangering others in the process. Remember, a bad mood is only temporary, but if you let it affect the way you drive, the consequences won't be! Moreover, some built-in parts of the driving task itself can lead some people to act aggressively on the road. For instance, on crowded roads, more cars have to compete for less space. As more drivers interact, the possibility of encountering an aggressive driver increases, especially as tension and impatience grow. Some people may become increasingly irritable the more they feel closed in by other cars. In addition, drivers often feel anonymous inside their cars, and thus empowered to act as they wish because nobody knows who they are. Inside the protection of their cars, these drivers may feel distinctly separate from others on the road. Even people who are usually mild-mannered may indulge their aggression when they're behind the wheel. Since most people on the road are strangers to each other, a driver may feel that his or her actions won't have significant consequences. Aggressive driving typically occurs when a driver is occupied with negative thoughts, such as: "Why are these cars going so slow?" "All of these cars are trying to crowd me out!" "Ha! I'll speed up and show him!" "If everyone else is going to be rude, why should I be courteous?" "The car in front of me will speed up if I tailgate!" "We'll never make it in time!" If you find yourself thinking like this, remind yourself, "It's no use getting worked up over someone else's bad driving," or "Relax! I'll get there eventually."

SECTION: Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

When drivers let their emotions get the best of them, Aggressive Driving may be the result. It doesn't take much for a driver who is stressed or angry, or one who naturally has a negative disposition, to become an aggressive driver, especially if he or she is frustrated by the situation on the road or the actions of other drivers. Any deliberate and dangerous behavior motivated by impatience, annoyance, or hostility is considered aggressive driving. Aggressive driving is defined as any continuous sequence of dangerous driving acts that may endanger people or property, as well as any single intentional violation that requires a defensive reaction on the part of another driver. Aggressive drivers are often in a hurry to get somewhere and willing to intentionally disregard traffic control devices, the rules of the road, and the safety of other roadway users, in the process. Their behavior endangers everyone on the road Some basic examples of aggressive driving include: Running a red light while speeding Braking unexpectedly to make a tailgater slow down Rolling through a stop sign when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk Each of these behaviors endangers the driver who performs them and everyone else on the road. When aggressive drivers become so overcome by anger that they lose all conception of the potential consequences of their actions, they may use their car as a weapon to ram another vehicle or threaten a pedestrian. They may even get out of their car to confront another driver with a tire iron—or a gun! This form of extreme aggressive driving is known as Road Rage. Whereas typical aggressive drivers act recklessly without considering how their actions affect others, drivers experiencing road rage actively seek to harm others. Road rage is usually sparked by a specific incident on the road. For instance, an already agitated driver may experience road rage when he or she feels that another driver has acted disrespectfully. Most events that spark road rage are relatively insignificant and would be quickly forgotten by most drivers. When a driver is overwhelmed by road rage, however, the situation can quickly escalate into violent, criminal behavior. An enraged driver may lash out at anyone, even someone who wasn't involved in the event that initially set him or her off. Drivers experiencing road rage may: Intentionally hit or appear to hit another vehicle with their own Open a car door to cause an approaching bicyclist to crash into it Exit their vehicle in traffic to threaten another driver Pull close to or cut off another driver Speed up when someone tries to pass Deliberately brake suddenly Tailgate another car These behaviors aren't just dangerous—they're also criminal! Depending on the disposition of the driver, road rage can take a number of different forms. For example, a driver may: Become verbally abusive, yelling, honking, gesturing, and swearing at others Explode with anger, chasing, blocking, or cutting off another vehicle Quietly seethe or complain to him or herself while rushing or weaving around another driver Fixate on a single driver, refusing to leave him or her alone Claim the position another driver seeks to occupy or resist another driver's attempts to claim the right-of-way Act like everyone on the road is an obstacle to be circumvented, crossing several lanes at once, ignoring road signs, and claiming the right-of-way without checking to see if others are waiting Believe that every situation can be solved through violence and be ready to pick a fight at any time To avoid instigating aggressive behavior in others, you should always drive in a safe and courteous manner. You must also know how to recognize aggressive drivers and what to do if there's an aggressive driver on the road. Learn to keep your own emotions in check. Even if you become angered by the behavior of another driver, remember to remain calm and avoid behaviors likely to increase the risk you and other drivers face.

ECTION: Dealing with Aggressive Drivers

When you encounter an aggressive driver, you must not take his or her actions personally, even if they're directed at you. Aggressive drivers are reacting to their own bad moods, and there's nothing you can do that will make them start thinking clearly. Ultimately, the only driver you're responsible for is yourself. Don't challenge an aggressive driver. Instead, treat him or her as just another hazard on the road to be avoided. When other drivers get agitated, you must respond by remaining as calm as possible. As long as you're able to think clearly, you'll remain in control of the situation. Give an aggressive driver plenty of space. Don't attempt to engage the other driver's attention or signal to him or her in any way, unless it's essential for your safety. To someone overwhelmed by anger, even a friendly smile can be misinterpreted Make every attempt to get out of the way of an obviously aggressive or dangerous driver. Put enough distance between yourself and the aggressive driver to ensure your safety, even if it means changing routes to do so. Avoid making eye contact. To an already negative driver, eye contact can be interpreted as a challenge. Don't try to correct the other driver's behavior or teach him or her a lesson by honking, speeding up, tailgating, etc. Interfering with aggressive drivers will probably not bring them to their senses. It's much more likely to anger them further If another driver insults you or treats you rudely, ignore it. The best thing you can do when you encounter an aggressive driver is to let him or her pass you. There's no reason to endanger yourself because another driver is acting recklessly. Avoiding aggressive drivers is rarely difficult: if you leave them alone, they'll drive away from you themselves. If you try to challenge them, however, you may become the object of their rage and they may continue to harass you for miles, even if it means going out of their way to do so. An aggressive driver who feels challenged may follow you for miles, regardless of whether or not the challenge was actually intended. If this happens, do not drive home or to work, as you may be showing an emotionally unstable person how to find you in the future. You should: Stay calm Flash your lights and honk your horn to draw others' attention Drive to a safe spot such as a police station or a crowded location Stay in your car If an aggressive driver gets out of his or her car and approaches yours, don't get out of your car. Call the police or, if it is safe, drive away while the aggressive driver is unable to follow you. Even if you think another driver is acting dangerously enough that he or she may cause a deadly collision, it's not your responsibility to play the hero. Pull over, call Texas Highway Patrol, and describe the vehicle in question and its driver's behavior. Peace officers are trained to deal with aggressive drivers safely. If you see a collision caused by an aggressive driver, continue past the site of the crash and pull over. Don't engage with anyone involved in the collision unless emergency assistance is needed. Wait for law enforcement to arrive to provide an account of what you witnessed. Have you ever heard the expression, "Living well is the best revenge"? Keep this in mind when dealing with an aggressive driver. If you feel insulted by another driver's actions, shrug it off. The best way to get back at aggressive drivers is to laugh at the futility of their behavior once they've passed you. Remind yourself that while they're still irritated by everything around them and at a higher risk of causing a collision, you're capable of relaxing and enjoying the experience of driving.