Drivers will always have to share the road with, not only other drivers, but also pedestrians and bicyclists.  A country wide problem with road rage has evolved over the past decade.  With the hustle and bustle of the modern day, the stress of jobs and the economy, and the rush to get form place to place, drives have become less tolerant of traffic and other drivers.  Road rage comes in many forms, from yelling at another motorist to physically assaulting other drivers. The NHTS states that road rage involves a criminal act of violence, and aggressive driving can range from tailgating to speeding to running red lights. They estimate that aggressive driving accounts for about one-third of all crashes and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities.  As the roadways get more and more congested, some drivers lose their patience.  At, the same time, this is no excuse for being disrespectable to others.  It is a personal responsibility to reduce stress while driving, to slow down, and to remain composed, no matter the situation.  Here are some helpful tips to do this:

-Think about your health.  Maybe this will get people to calm down, those who are prone to anger and hostility are much more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke, and be obese and depressed.

-Loosen muscles.  If your knuckles are white from holding the steering wheel too tight you have less control.  If you muscles ache or you get a cramp, especially on a long trip, stop and stretch out.

-Act as an example.  You never know, if you walk into a confrontation calm and well behaved, the other driver may realize how ridiculous they are acting.

-Use your car for transportation purposes only.  Your car should not be driven to blow off steam, and it should not be driven to prove anything, no matter how big the engine is.

-Keep good manners.  Just because you are alone, it doesn’t give reason to be rude.  Act as if you were in a crowd.

-Think about your music.  Aggressive music, such as heavy metal, tends to make people aggressive.  If you are prone to these feeling, there is plenty of other stuff on the radio, try a comedy station for example.

-Plan for extra time.  This starts with making morning preparations the night before, whether its kids lunches or your clothing for the next day.  If you need to leave at, say 8:00, shoot for leaving at 7:30.  The less rushed you are will limit stress caused by backed up traffic or slow moving drivers.  When people are late getting somewhere they are more likely to speed and to lose their temper.

-Give other drivers a break.  If you are cut off, don’t assume the driver is targeting you.  People make mistakes, they get distracted.  A quick honk of the horn is adequate.

-Adequate Sleep. Many adults sleep less then six hours a night, and this is not adequate sleep, it is  recommended that we get at least seven.  Tired people results in cranky drivers.

Everyone loses their cool at one time or another. Yes, backed up traffic and careless drivers can be irritating, but the road is not the place to lose control.  You probably know if you are likely to become aggressive while driving, if so, takes steps to prevent this from happening.  Because, when you are on the road, you are dealing with people’s safety and well being, as well as your own.