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At some point in your life, you are going to encounter a rude and/or inconsiderate driver. Your first instinct may be to be rude back, perhaps making an obscene gesture at him/her. This is the worst thing you can do. When you return the rude driver's rudeness, you are just making him/her even more mad. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 66 percent of all annual traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving actions. Here are some techniques you can use to keep your cool and get out of the way of inconsiderate drivers:

1. Ignore the bad driver: Do not acknowledge the aggressive driver. Don't even make eye contact with him/her. Many rude drivers interpret eye contact as a challenge. Just mind your own business and hope the bad driver moves along.

2. Let the bad driver pass you: If the inconsiderate driver isn't leaving, find a safe place to slow down and let the driver pass you. Once they have gone around, resume your normal driving.

3. Let the authorities handle the situation: If the driver still hasn't moved along, you may need to let the police take care of the situation. If you know of a police station nearby, you can drive to it for a safe place to report the driver. If you aren't in a position to find the police, you can use your cell phone to call the authorities.

The important thing to remember when you encounter a rude driver is to remain calm and to not stoop to their level. When you retaliate, you are just one more bad driver, and you create a situation that is even more dangerous.

Learn more about this author, Loren Jamison.
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