An antidote to road rage
I was traveling northbound on EDSA once and as soon as I got off the Magallanes Bridge, I saw that the streets were jammed. Motorists coming from Pasay who wanted to enter the Dasmarinas Village gate on the right had to insert themselves into the two lanes coming from the South Super Highway. Over a distance of less than 100 meters, they had to cut into the rightmost lane to enter the gate.
Those coming from the south who were headed for Makati, on the other hand, did not want to give way. Thus, a massive gridlock occurred.
It took some time to untangle the mess and drivers on all the lanes were visibly upset, some rolling down their windows with fists held high at those who caused the traffic mess.
Thankfully, someone from the MMDA correctly made the decision to not allow vehicles coming from Pasay to enter the Dasma gate. They put concrete barriers to prevent anyone from breaching the two lanes coming from SLEX.
Road rage has become viral of late. I have been interviewed by the media because of the death of a driver in a road rage incident in the EDSA-Ayala tunnel. Everyone had a say on the matter.
When I reflected on what had been said, I realized that all of us are guilty of this road rage sin. As a driver, you have gotten into incidents where you imagined another driver intentionally tried to squeeze you out of your lane.
Road rage is aggressive or angry behavior exhibited by drivers in response to perceived slights, mistakes, or poor driving by others. It can include a range of actions, from rude gestures and verbal insults to more extreme behaviors like tailgating, cutting off other drivers, and even physical confrontations.
Road rage is often triggered by stress, frustration, or anger, and it poses significant risks to road safety, leading to accidents and sometimes even violent encounters.
Managing anger while driving involves a combination of mental strategies, relaxation techniques, and practical steps to maintain calm and ensure safety. Here are some effective ways to manage anger while driving:
1. Plan Ahead: Allow extra time for your journey to reduce stress from running late.
2. Stay Calm: Practice deep breathing or listen to calming music to help maintain a relaxed state.
3. Adjust Your Perspective: Remind yourself that traffic delays and mistakes by other drivers are not personal attacks.
4. Use Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive or neutral ones, such as “I’ll get there eventually” or “It’s not worth getting upset over.”
5. Avoid Confrontation: Do not engage with aggressive drivers. Avoid eye contact and focus on your own driving.
6. Take Breaks: If you feel overwhelmed, pull over to a safe location to take a break and regain composure.
7. Practice Empathy: Consider that other drivers might be having a bad day or may not be aware of their actions.
8. Learn Relaxation Techniques: Techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation or mindfulness can help keep your stress levels down.
9. Stay Focused: Concentrate on your driving rather than on what other drivers are doing.
10. Seek Professional Help: If you find it difficult to manage your anger, consider seeking help from a therapist or joining an anger management course.
By incorporating these strategies, you can reduce the likelihood of road rage and create a safer driving environment for yourself and others.
My own personal solution is to let the offending party go ahead of you. I would then look for a place to park, such as a gasoline station or a driveway. I would stop for five minutes, and yell my lungs out. I would vent, but in the private confines of my car. I don’t get even because I know the consequence of acting out my anger can be fatal.
I do believe it is an attitude problem. Have an attitude of charity towards other drivers. When I see aggressive behavior, I just tell myself that the poor driver might be having fits of diarrhea and is looking for a place to relieve himself. I chuckle to myself with this thought and drive on as calmly and with great safety towards my destination.
Do build an automatic venting system of your own. Don’t let your anger get the better of you. You might end up dead or worse, land in jail for hurting other motorists or pedestrians on the road. A cool driver gets to where he wants to go in one piece. Keep that in mind always.
By Joe Ferreria
