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Drivers are often exposed to a lot of dangerous situations that can easily become life-threatening. While a lot of these situations are caused by nature or by other (reckless) drivers, sometimes we cannot blame anyone but ourselves. Road rage is often used a term to describe some characteristics in our behavior that can have a lot of negative impact on our safety as well as the safety of others. In this article we will showcase the top 10 ways to tame road rage and discus some of the other important things that are under your control when it comes to safety on the road. 10 Ways to Tame Road Rage 1. Be aware of your internal dialogue and thoughts – do not space out! This can happen more often than we would like to admit. 2. Yelling at another driver is completely useless as well as very dangerous. Remind yourself that you can’t actually change their driving and that going through the trouble to yell at them may only make your own driving worse and put you at risk. Also, sparking a conflict with another person is never a good idea, and besides, what if they are having the absolute worse day of their life and you are just making it worse? 3. The next one is a cliché - take deep breaths! But seriously - oxygen calms you down and gives you fresh energy when you’re running low on patience. 4. If you feel stressed, listen to gentle music to prevent road rage. Even if you are not in a stressful situation it is a good idea to set the mood and relax, especially if it was a hard day. 5. It is not such a bad idea to try using an aromatherapy car diffuser. Natural aromas of pure essential oils have shown to relieve stress, but it may not work on you as well as it does on other people. Nonetheless, it is a very cheap investment with a lot of potential benefits. 6. A lot of motivation coaches often remind us that we can all use an awesome affirmation phrase for those moments when we get stressed or scared. Try using the Present Simple to form a phrase such as “I’m a good driver” and repeat in the heat of the moment. 7. Have a snack handy. An empty stomach causes stress that may contribute to poor driving decisions. Of course don’t eat while driving! 8. Respect other drivers. You never know why someone’s driving is erratic. Pretend they are in a life and death situation. Turn the anger into empathy by sending them good wishes to get home safely – in other words be the better man! 9. If you have to confront a driver, do so thoughtfully. Talk to them in terms of how their behavior endangers others and prevent yourself from yelling. Be rational and reasonable and don’t let them take your ground. 10. Road rage at the root is stress and if this is a problem that you cannot resolve no matter how hard you try then you need to find a way to remove that stress. Do not be afraid to consult a professional if things get out of hand. About the Author Jim Wilkinson is the CEO of MJW Inc and the founder of Your Greatest Protection, a website dedicated to sharing tips and advice on personal security and general safety. His web store contains a lot of useful items and we recommend you have a look at his driving safety kits that will drastically increase your safety on the road.
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road safety, road rage, driving safety, driving tips, reckless driving,
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