Parallel parking in a spot between two cars is stressful enough without someone trying to steal the only parking you’ve found three blocks away from your intended location. Such a situation can easily go from a verbal confrontation to a physical altercation faster than your car can accelerate from 0-100 km/h! And that, my dear friend, is what we call road rage!

 

Why does road rage happen?

According to British Psychologist and Well-being Consultant, Lee Chambers, it’s due to our fight or flight instinct. When we are faced with impending danger, the ‘fight or flight’ instinct kicks in, but in your car you have nowhere to ‘run’ to so you choose to rumble! It is as if your brain chooses for you by initiating the fight response, resulting in anger and rage – road rage to be exact.

Another reason that road rage happens is sweet old revenge! In an article from Psychology Today, Grant Hilary Brenner (MD and Distinguished Fellow of the APA) confirms that revenge really is sweet. Getting even feels good. It’s almost impossible to resist the urge to return the favour to the car that just cut you off or suddenly hit your brakes to teach a tailgater a lesson. All this can obviously lead to road rage.

 

How road rage can affect your health.

Chambers goes on to say that “Stress induced by road rage increases blood pressure, which can, in turn, increase the risk of both strokes and heart attacks. Bouts of rage have also been associated with cardiovascular health issues i.e., an increased risk of heart attacks and similar conditions.” And adds that “Stress is often cited as the number one killer. As road rage is exceptionally stressful, both physically and psychologically, it can have dire consequences either at the time of the incident or further down the road.”

 

How to avoid road rage.                                               

  • Play music.

It’s hard to issue a middle finger to anyone when you are singing along to Tones and I’s Dance Monkey, so put on something that puts you in your happy place and sing the rage away.

  • Whoosah or count to 10.

If Captain Conrad Howard, may his fictional soul rest in peace, from the Bad Boys franchise has taught us anything, it’s that you have to whoosah the bad energies away. Or simply close your eyes and count to 10 to help yourself calm down.

  • Plan ahead.

Leave earlier to give yourself more time to get to where you are going or consider changing your schedule to avoid peak traffic times. You’re also less likely to explode if you’re not dealing with the underlying pressure of beating the clock.

  • Breathe!

Just breathe. Take a second, unclench your teeth, and take a deep breath.

  • Avoid road rage triggers.

Don't block the passing lanes.

Keep a safe following distance behind the car in front of you.

Always signal before you switch lanes.

Don't cut anyone off.

Don’t steal other people’s parking.

Don't flash your bright beams at other motorists to punish them.

Don’t retaliate.

Don’t honk excessively at anyone.