As a driver never make the assumptions that other drivers know the rules of the road, are in their right mind, or will do the right thing. If you have any of those mindsets, you could be setting yourself up to giving in to road rage. There are several common-sense rules of the road and if drivers would think about them and adhere to them, there would be fewer occasions to engage in road rage or similar destructive behavior.

Drive the posted speed limit if you are in the fast lane. If there are cars behind you that choose to drive faster than the posted speed limit, move over. It is not worth it to be right if you end up either maimed or dead.

Do not talk on your cell phone while driving, especially if you must hold it with one hand. Chatting on the phone is a very dangerous practice and it endangers everyone near or around you.

Do not attempt to multi-task. Your eyes should stay on the road and you should always look in all your mirrors to determine what is going on behind, around, and ahead of you. There have been recorded incidences where taking your eyes away from the road for a second or two to change a CD or to check your makeup can have catastrophic results.

Do not reduce your speed suddenly without giving the driver behind you some indication of your action. According to the experts, the driving distance between cars should be no less than one car length for every ten miles per hour. In the rain the driving distance between cars should be no less than three to five seconds. To determine the distance in seconds, select a road sign or tree and count for three to five seconds. This should be between the time you start counting until you reach the tree or sign.

Do not drive when you are upset or stressed about something. You might find that as your anger mounts or your stress level quickens, your speed might also accelerate.

Do not tailgate or follow too closely behind the car in front of you. There are several reasons not to do this as many high profile automobile accidents showed that tailgating was deliberate acts perpetrated to defraud insurance companies. That may not be your intention, but the driver ahead of you will not know that you are not targeting him or her.

Do not cut off other drivers as this might be perceived as an aggressive act that will most surely enrage many drivers, besides it is illegal.

There are many ways to circumvent road rage; however if you are the victim of it, do not stop to argue with the perpetrator. If you are pursued, drive to the nearest police station. Remember, road rage is primitive and childish behavior. Do not allow yourself to become a victim because of someone else's rage. More importantly, do not yield to the temptation of responding to others rage , because most often their anger as well as your's is misdirected.

Driving is a priviledge, not a right and everyone who partakes of this priviledge should have the right to enjoy their excursions.

Learn more about this author, Dossie M Terrell.
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