by Sheree Zielke

Created on: May 18, 2007   Last Updated: May 21, 2007

Road rage? What road rage? Can't that idiot just get out of my way?

Everyone makes mistakes. Even you, you narcissistic bully. Preventing road rage is easy, but you must start with yourself. Give the other guy a break. And if you can't do that, you need an anger management class.

But while you are on your way to that class, here are some tips to help you get there without abusing some other unsuspecting driver:

1. So what if that driver of the BMW slipped into your lane without signaling; so what if the driver in the SUV tailgated you while chatting on his cell phone; so what if the guy in the rusted-out truck just laid on his horn, scaring the heck out of you.

Be a bigger person; convince yourself that it's just a little human error on their part. Do this through gritted teeth; it'll help.

2. Get over yourself. Stop taking it all so personally. Not everyone has it in for you; only a few of us are out to get you.

3. You have absolutely no control over the behavior of another driver. If it is important to you to get where you are going, without having an accident, or an incident, stay focused on your own actions.

Let the other guy have his little fit. You stay cool; nod, and smile and say your filthy curse words silently inside your head. Just think them extra hard, with extra vehemence. It will help dispel some of that bile.

4. As to those physical gestures, do anything you want, as long as you keep your hands and ALL those fingers below the dashboard when flipping through your menu of digital signals.

5. Visualize. You are entering your happy place, a warm sunny beach where the gulls swoop overhead, and the hula girls sway their rounded hips. Well, if that'll do it for you, that's great. But I doubt it.

So, go back into that happy place, and take a few rounds out of that driver in the Toyota ahead of you, the one that simply refuses to go above the speed limit, no matter how often you hit your horn. Hair pulling, in your mind's eye, is particularly effective, too.

Follow these tips and you will prevent yourself from full blown road rage; your repressed anger and the resulting depression, well, that's another matter.

But you were on your way to the shrink's office anyway.

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