Yes the title doesn’t seem to make any sense but pretend that it does. Most of the time when you talk about heavy traffic and rush hour you’ll talk about road rage as well. So there you go, heavy traffic during rush hour is not only expected it has also become part and parcel of our lives we’ve managed to live with it already. We all have our own stories to tell and sometimes when anger becomes terribly uncontrollable, things might get really nasty out there on the road once in a while.
How many times have we read news about violence erupting once drivers get enraged over a petty traffic situation? The fact is it’s tough to control oneself when another driver cuts you off while you’re also trying to get to work as early as you can. In a place like New York, these things happen all the time and although it’s tempting to lash back it’s always smarter to take a step back.
1. The Trick Is Not To Care
So here’s the scenario, you’re on your way to work and while it’s pretty obvious that there’s a massive traffic clog going on another car cuts you off while giving you a cold and angry stare. For men, the macho element would be hard to restrain and there’s a good possibility that you’ll exchange some colorful words or even obscene hand gesture as well.
Before you get into more trouble, remember that you’ve got a whole day to do at work and fighting a total stranger isn’t a very good way to start your day. So in short, don’t lose your composure and handle the situation as calmly as possible.
2. When Things Get Too Close For Comfort
Prior to my trip to London I was driving along an extremely busy avenue to meet up with some of my clients. Meanwhile, on my way to the place another car was tailgating me but instead of slamming my brakes to send off a not-so-nice message, I decided to just back off even when I was already seething with anger.
The fact is, cooler heads will always prevail and although I can pretty much get away by just bitching like what most women do I didn’t risk it. It’s better to be safe than sorry and you’ll never know whether a person is drugged and armed until it’s already too late.
3. Never Get Out
On the other hand, sometimes it’s inevitable that you finally lose your cool and when that happens it’s either you budge or you don’t. If ever you end up waving an obscene finger or blurt out a nasty remark, don’t escalate things further by getting out of your car. Doing so is simply inviting commotion and when that happens, anything is possible.
If the other driver gets out and starts his or her aggression, close the window and get out of the place as soon as possible. The last thing you’d want is a massive black eye and your ass getting kicked just because of traffic.
Tense-filled situations do not need to be escalated by joining in the fray especially when you’re out there driving. The point is everyone just wants to get to their own destinations safely and without any scratches. On the other hand, there are lots of people who can’t manage their anger and when you know that you can, that’s enough reason to believe that you’ll be safe no matter what.
