A few tips on how to deal with aggressive drivers
Reducing your stress levels can help you manage road rage.
Aggressive driving is a major concern and a real threat to the safety of all road users according to the SAPS.
Any unsafe driving behaviour, performed deliberately and with ill intention or disregard for safety, can constitute aggressive driving.
In extreme cases, this may escalate to road rage, which is a violent criminal act involving the intention to cause physical harm.
Here are a few tips on how to deal with aggressive drivers and helpful hints on how to reduce your own stress while driving:
• Protect yourself
If you are dealing with an aggressive driver, make sure your car’s doors are locked.
If you are stopped in the traffic, leave enough room to pull out from behind the car you are following.
If an aggressive driver confronts you, call 10111 or drive to the nearest police station.
• Do not take it personally
Be polite and courteous, even if the other driver is not.
Avoid any conflict, if possible.
If another driver challenges you, take a deep breath and move out of the way.
Never underestimate the other driver’s capacity for causing harm.
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• Reduce your own stress
Understand that you cannot control the traffic, only your reaction to it.
In the end, you may find that personal frustration, anger and impatience are the real danger zones on the highway.
• Be a courteous driver
Set a good example, which can help make our roads safer.
Control your anger.
Avoid making eye contact with an aggressive driver.
Do not make obscene gestures.
Do not tailgate.
Use your horn sparingly, even a polite honk can be misinterpreted.
Do not block a passing vehicle.
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