Driving safety has taken a new turn with people getting frustrated behind the wheel. After all, vehicles are weapons, and sometimes we forget that.
Just the other day, I was driving back from my doctor’s office. On a two-lane street I had decided to let someone pulling out to go in front of me. Well, they had to wait for the right lane to clear, as did I. Just a few seconds after this I heard a honk from behind me. I glanced in my rear view mirror to find a man in his car honking obnoxiously, and apparently yelling. Of course, I couldn’t hear him. The person I had let go in front of me felt so bad they tried to get in the right lane as soon as possible, eventually cutting someone off.
That was the end of that little road rage experience the guy behind me experienced, but it could have been much worse. I could have cared less that he was mad, but the person I let in front of me became flustered. She made a rash decision to pull out in front of someone else. This could have easily turned into an accident where someone could have gotten hurt. Not only that, I was stopped. I was basically trapped if this irate man were to decide to get out of his vehicle and take his anger to another level – one on one. Fortunately, it’s a habit of mine to always keep my doors locked, even when I’m inside my car. However, what if he had a weapon? There are many different horrible outcomes that could have came of this. Luckily, I just shook my head and drove on.
Hey, I admit it: road rage has hit me on occasion as well. It happens. Although we are parents, we are human too!
Driving safety for parents doesn’t just mean going the speed limit, stopping at red lights, and wearing our seatbelts. That’s just the basics and common sense. We also must keep our eyes on the road and stay focused, even if we have children screaming or fighting in the backseat! Now, that’s talent in itself, and it can get pretty frustrating. So, when someone cuts us off, or runs a red light, we are not just mad because of their careless actions, we are already wound up! We’re also angry because that person has just put our kid’s lives and safety in jeopardy.
It’s no surprise that road rage could hit us at any time. Getting angry is okay. We are here to protect our children, and when someone puts them in danger, we have a right to get mad. The importance lies in how we handle that anger during the situation. It’s difficult, but we must try to stay calm: no yelling, swearing, etc.
Some Tips to Help You Handle Road Rage:
1. Try to stay calm, especially if nothing came of it. You’ll only alert your children and scare them if you make a big deal of it. They learn from you, and if you can stay calm, they will be more likely to do the same when they drive.
2. Breath deeply. Tell yourself that everything is okay – anything that makes you feel better. Use what works for you. Taking deep breaths will help bring more oxygen to your brain, and make you feel more calm.
3. Pull over if you need to. Don’t hesitate. Just let your children know you need a minute.
4. When you get home, vent out that anger! Call a friend, write in your journal, or get to that punching bag! You will need some way to vent in a healthy way.
The best part about this is that your children will see how you handled it!
Stay Safe!