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Here’s What To Do If You Are The Target Of Road Rage

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It seems like incidents of road rage are absolutely and completely out of control.

I don’t know if it was being cooped up in the house during 2020, people forgetting that sometimes mistakes happen, or maybe a loss of common decency and forgiveness.

Road rage is a real problem that only seems to be getting worse.

I can’t tell you how many times people have flipped me off, and I don’t even know what the heck I’ve done.

Or, I’ve been pulling slowly out of a parking space and someone zooms up behind me and lays on the horn.

I’ll be honest. My gut reaction is to retaliate. But, is that really going to help the situation? Or might it make the situation 100% worse?

What To Do If You Experience A Road Rage Incident

First and foremost, stay calm.

If someone is upset to the point of road rage, you’re not going to make it any better by getting upset yourself.

Easier said than done, I know.

It’s hard to calm somebody else — The behavior you can control is your own.

Art Markman, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin

But, if you get upset, it’s going to make them more upset. This, in turn, makes you even more upset — and things can get out of hand really quickly.

Next, you want to get out of the situation if at all possible.

You can move over into the next lane and slow down your vehicle so you’re not right next to the angry driver.

If there’s a side street, you might want to turn onto it and get away from the road rage incident.

Do NOT stop your car and try to engage with the person.

You want to make it clear that you don’t want to take part in whatever angry battle is brewing.

Do as much as possible to signal that you’re not interested in engaging — You’re not trying to do something that’s turning this into a race — that’s turning this into something dangerous.

Art Markman, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin

If you can’t peacefully get out of the situation, call the police. Tell them you are involved in a road rage incident, and you need help.

Let the police de escalate the situation if need be.

Having that third party — one of authority — might just be the help you need to avoid a disaster.

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