How to Deal with Road Rage Drivers: Top 5 Tips

If you’ve found yourself in the middle of a road rage dispute before, you certainly aren’t alone. Road rage affects thousands of people every year – and you don’t need to travel far to witness it in one form or another, especially if you live in a busy city.

But what can you do to prevent the situation from escalating? If you’ve got an aggressive driver behind you, here are five steps you can take to try and diffuse the situation and continue your journey safely.

1. Breathe. The worst thing you can do in a road rage situation is to act impulsively. It’s so important to just breathe: don’t look them in the eye or alter your driving in any way. Maintain your speed and course, and don’t be tempted to brake check them or speed up and outrun them – that kind of approach rarely ends well.
2. Are you at fault? Nobody’s perfect, and we all make mistakes – it doesn’t matter how experienced or proficient you are. Analyse what just happened, and what provoked the other person to react – did you do something wrong? If so, swallow your pride and apologise. It doesn’t justify their actions – tailgating and aggressive driving is never OK – but it’ll make you the bigger person and could resolve the situation.
3. Don’t join in. If you feel you did nothing wrong or your apology isn’t well received, then clearly you’re not going to get anywhere with the other driver. With a civil conversation and handshake off the table, it’s best not to lower yourself to their level and rage back at them. Maintain your composure if you can, and give them time and space to simmer down.
4. Keep your distance. Try and find a convenient place to let the other driver by, and avoid continuing on the same route as them if you can – the last thing you want is to start the whole thing off again.
5. Take a break. If you’re feeling angry and can’t focus on driving, it’s wise to have a breather for a few minutes and calm yourself down. If you’re too preoccupied to concentrate on your own driving, you could end up having an accident.

Perhaps you’re considering learning to drive and are looking for a driving school in Peterborough? Our intensive 5-day courses will help you pass in no time – contact us to find out more about them today. If you need more advice on how to deal with road rage, read our other Go Learning articles.