You've probably suffered road rage at some time or another - bad news for you and the rest of us! So what can you do to prevent getting angry on the roads?OK, I admit it. I have become quite agitated behind the wheel. But they desevered the hand gesture to tell them that they were incompetent, incapable and inconsiderate. Are they driving with their eyes closed?! Do they think that they are the only one on the road?! Where did they get their license from anyway, the back of a cereal box?! Arrrgh!
Know how I feel? There are times when you can feel your blood boil as you try to get to that appointment on time. Road rage is alive and kicking on Australian roads - and not just the urban ones.
I was travelling between Albury and Melbourne earlier this year and a massive black truck scared the pants off me with its shiny silver dual exhaust pipes and high beams breathing down my neck, and I was in the left-hand lane!
It’s not cool to lose your cool behind the wheel so here are some simple to help you avoid the heart palpitations, red face and sweaty palms and armpits.
Avoid running late - This is when your stress levels are high to start with. When you are running late you’ll find yourself saying. 'That’d be right, another red light!!', sending your stress levels up to an even higher notch.
Know where you’re going - Whether it’s to meetings, sports grounds or birthday parties, knowing where you’re heading should provide for a calmer trip.
Be courteous - When traffic is merging, take in turns. Not only is this polite, it will keep you in control of your decisions and actions.
Breathe - Fresh air and deep breaths is the key. Shallow breathing restricts the flow of oxygen and can heighten feelings of panic and stress.
Keep your car in good running order - This will help you to avoid breakdowns and feel more confident in unfamiliar places.
Top it up - Put fuel in your car when the low fuel warning signal first comes on. Wondering whether you’ll make it to the next petrol station is guaranteed to get your heart running, not necessarily your motor!
Do unto others - If you don’t like being on the receiving end of rude gestures, beeping horns and being cut off, try and avoid doing these yourself.
Audio therapy - Here are some different options.
a) Play some of your all time favourite songs and sing to your heart’s content.
b) Play calming music and use your time in the car as a de stress zone.
c) Choose music that has similar bpm (beats per minute) to your heart rate – about 60bpm is best. Research shows this is the optimum beat to help you relax, de-stress and chill out. So if Eminem is one of your faves, maybe leave his songs for when you are at home!
Communicate with other drivers - Use your indicators, make friendly eye contact, give a little wave when someone lets you in, avoid driving in blind spots and use the correct lights. Remember fog lights are for driving in foggy conditions.
Have kids! - Yes, you may laugh, but it is really interesting how you can control your language and temper when you have little ones on board. We are their best role model, after all.
If you find your temper rising to uncontrollable levels, pull to the side of the road in a safe, legal place, turn your car off and sit there until you feel calmer.
Being calm and in control behind the wheel is the safest way to travel for you and your passengers and everyone else on the road.
Did we miss any of your favorite calming techniques? Let us know below.
Car drivers, when a truck approaches from behind it obviously means that he is maintaining a higher speed than you are. when the truck gains on you don t slow down but maintain your speed. The truck driver will then be able to anticipate when to pass you safely. If you vary your speed it causes confusion for the truck driver. As he or she adjusts speed for an approaching hill etc. The truckie can pass you or slow down if he's exceeding 100kph. A lot of car drivers slow down when a truck gets close, which causes the truck to have to slow down if he can't pass, which spoils his run at the next hill. If a truckie can hit the bottom of a hill at 100 it's much easier for the truck to climb the hil withour slowing too much. And if motorists could travel 100 metres apart it allows room for the truck to merge back into left lane without causinga great chain reaction of other vehicles having to slow down. It is very hard for truck drivers with the 100k speed limit to maintain an average speed of 100. all trucks should be allowed to have 108 kph top speed for passing slower vehicles and should cruise at 100. So out of courtesy could motorists think of the guys who have to drive from Sydney to Brisbane in 12 hrs or Sydney to Melbourne in 10 hrs or Brisbane to Mackay in 11 hrs. If a truck catches up to you he's averaging a higher speed so let it go past you, he may slow you for a few hills but once rolling he'll be gone.
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One of my peeves when I'm driving is people using their horns for no real reason. I now live in a city where it is commonplace so over the past year or so I have had to exercise self control. Unfortunately I sometimes get, well irritable is an understatement, and self control is incredibly difficult and I have been known to threaten the offending driver with the insertion of his horn in an orifice that would result in a great deal of discomfort if he tried to sit down. I'm normally a placid person but the drivers here just push my buttons and they seem happy to take the risk.
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I think the solution to the utterly terrible road skills that I see being every day, is more road rage. People need to stop using the roads in a selfish manner. All the road training, public service announcements etc will not help those who refuse to change. Slapping someone in the face will not make you "as bad as they are" nor "lower yourself to their level". Violence is simply the inbuilt mechanism that we use to say, "CUT YOUR @#$%!" when the gently-gently softly-softly approach doesn't work. People should be concerned with maintaining a high standard of driving excellence every day of their lives and when the person next you, who is a piloting 1 tonne+ vehicles, is cutting people off, failing to indicate or give way and doing it on purpose, or just plain isn't paying attention, they need to be reminded that every time you drive a vehicle, you can potentially kill someone.
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