Is road rage driving you crazy

Picture yourself driving along a street. Suddenly a car jumps in front of you and you are forced to press your brakes hard to avoid hitting them.
What do you do? Will you just keep your cool and drive to your destination in a calm fashion? Will you pull alongside of the other driver and give him a large piece of your mind?
If you choose to go after the other driver and cause an altercation, then you are one of millions of aggressive drivers suffering from road rage.
Road rage is a growing epidemic in our country. Studies show that there is a stead increase in road rage disputes that end in injury or death.
According to the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety, road rage is the term given to describe extreme acts of aggression between drivers. These acts of aggression often result in damage to property, assault, and sometimes death.
The AAA recently released a report showing incidents of road rage increased to 51 percent since 1990.
According to the study, aggressive drivers have been known to use weapons such as tire irons, jack handles, baseball bats, knives, and pepper spray.
Most people have been affected by road rage in their lifetime. Latonia Walker, a junior Nursing student from Cade, Louisiana recalls her first experience with road rage.
According to Walker, she nearly missed a green light to turn left. “The man in the truck behind me drove up on side of me after we turned. He was screaming and cursing at me. It really scared me because it wasn’t a big deal and he blew the whole thing out of proportion.”
While Walker’s experience was upsetting to her, there are many cases that are more extreme. In Potomac, Maryland, a lawyer and former state legislator knocked the glasses off of a pregnant woman after she asked him why he tapped her Jeep with his vehicle.
Road rage is not only dangerous to the drivers. Innocent bystanders are also affected. On the George Washington Parkway in Virginia, drivers fighting over a lane change lost control of their vehicles and killed two innocent drivers. In Washington, D.C., a three-year-old girl was thrown from her safety seat after her father collided with another driver during a dispute.
Road rage is a dangerous behavior to engage in. However, there are ways to protect yourself.
First, if you are being hassled by another driver, try not to respond. This will help you to maintain control. Do not carry a weapon. If another driver confronts you, you may be tempted to use it and it may end up in the hands of the other driver. Finally, if you think you are being followed or a driver continues to hassle you, drive to a busy place or the nearest police station.
If you tend to be an aggressive driver, there are steps to relieve the stress of driving.
The AAA study on aggressive driving and road rage suggest that before reacting to a mistake made by another driver, ask yourself, “How many times have I made the same mistake?” Also, consider adjusting your schedule to avoid things like traffic and road construction. Most of all, do not drive when you are tired or angry.
Next time you are driving and you are provoked or you provoke another driver, ask yourself: “Is road rage is worth losing my life?”