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The alliterative automotive hazard known as road rage is not a new phenomenon, but seems to have augmented along with the number of vehicles on the road, the amount of stress that commuters face every day, and of course, the constantly-rising price of gasoline. The need for speed, fueled by popular culture and car commercials, is probably another aggravating factor. Statistics show that males between the ages of 18 and 25 are most often the perpetrators of this anti-social behavior, which can be as innocuous as an obscene gesture to as serious as an assault or homicide. Your response when you are faced with an irate, potentially dangerous motorist should be geared toward avoiding, or diffusing, a volatile situation.

Do not tap the breaks to discourage a persistent tailgater. Granted, your options may be somewhat limited, but if you can, pull over to the shoulder and let the offending driver pass, otherwise continue driving as fast as you safely can, not becoming agitated by the other motorist's honking or flashing of headlights. If you happen to be behind someone who is driving slower than you would like, you should allow sufficient space between your respective vehicles. An accident will slow you down much more than going 30 instead of 35 miles per hour.

Everyone occasionally does something stupid on the road. Maybe you are not paying attention and run a stop sign, or you inadvertently drift into someone's lane without signalling. Do not respond to an angry honk or a shouted obscentiy in kind. Give a brief, apologetic wave, accompanied by a mouthed "sorry." The other driver may still be annoyed, but will likely go on his way without further provocation.

Use the left lane for passing. When you are passing a slower vehicle, look carefully before getting into the left lane, and pass as quickly as you can. Coasting just a little bit faster than the car that you are passing will probably result in someone immediately riding your tail.

Pay attention to the road. This will reduce those aforementioned stupid mistakes and make you less of a target for road rage. Use your turn signals when turning or changing lanes. Do not use your bright lights when another vehicle is approaching. Drive at least the speed limit. If you have to make a cell phone call, pull over first, making sure that you are well out of the way of traffic. There are a lot of dangerous people on the road. Do not be one of them, and do not become a target of one of them.

Learn more about this author, Allan M. Heller.
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