How to deal with road rage

By Dr. Sameer Malhotra in Mental Health And Behavioural Sciences

Apr 27 , 2015 | 1 min read

Road rage has become an increasingly common problem that threatens the safety of all drivers.

Road rage is aggressive behavior by a road vehicle driver which might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions that result in injuries and even deaths.

Identifying the factors affecting one's behaviour and addressing it is important.

Following are the individual reasons of increasing road rage

Lack of time management leading to speeding the vehicle on the roads and any disturbance enroute adds to frustration levels
Decreasing patience, increasing anxiety and stress in life
Might is right attitude: not giving the way to other traffic, tailgating, unnecessary honking
Drug/alcohol use and driving
Unexpected Pedestrians crossing from anywhere, anytime: not using zebra crossings
Underlying disorders like anxiety, impulse dyscontrol, manic excitement, personality problems

Basic preventive measures to be taken by individual drivers/ pedestrians:

Moral education and managing anger tips to be taught in school as well: enhancing sense of responsibility towards self and others
Skill training including the way to behave on roads whether driving/pedestrian
Relaxation exercises
Time management: start in time
Avoid multitasking on the roads: do not use mobile phones/loud music whilst on roads
Give others the right to way. Do not unnecessarily and repeatedly honk. Do not park vehicle at wrong sites/block the way. Do not tailgate
Do not use drugs of abuse and drive
Anger management
Timely identification and treatment of underlying personality disorders, impulse dyscontrol, mood disorders, drug/substance/alcohol use disorders