“It’s better to lose one minute in life than to lose life in one minute.” –  Author Unknown

by: Suzie Peterson

May 22, 2025

Local Roads and Rising Danger

In my community, driving on many of the main roads has steadily grown more hazardous. Emergency calls related to car accidents are a daily certainty. These accidents continue to increase, with distracted and aggressive drivers playing a significant role. This trend is concerning to me. After recently witnessing numerous “close calls,” I felt compelled to gather and share some general thoughts and reminders about being on the road.

I am aware of the low chances that those who are the offenders of misbehaving behind the wheel probably won’t be the readers of this article. So that makes it even more important for me to share my reminding thoughts about the importance of remaining vigilant, patient, and calm to protect yourself and others.

Road Rage: What is it?  Why Does It Happen? How to Stay Calm?

Road rage is an increasingly common and dangerous phenomenon on roads around the world. Most drivers have either been on the receiving end of it, or upon reflection, can admit to having been the aggressive driver themselves at some point.

It often begins with minor irritations – someone cutting into a lane, driving too slowly, or failing to signal. These small annoyances can quickly escalate into aggressive behaviors such as tailgating, excessive honking, flashing headlights, weaving through traffic, making threatening gestures, and other forms of reckless driving.

Such behavior typically stems from frustration or perceived slights while on the road. In extreme cases, road rage can even lead to physical confrontations. These outbursts are often fueled by accumulated stress, emotional overload, or a sense of injustice while driving.

What is the Mindset Behind Road Rage?

Understanding the causes of road rage and adopting strategies to stay calm can help reduce tension and improve safety for everyone on the road.  Road rage has no single cause. It results from a mix of psychological, emotional, environmental, and cultural factors:

• Stress and Frustration: Daily pressures such as work problems, financial concerns, or personal conflicts often spill over into driving. Traffic jams, delays, and perceived disrespect can exacerbate these feelings, leading to outbursts.
  
• Impatience and Time Pressure: Many drivers feel rushed due to busy schedules. Delays caused by slow drivers, stoplights, or congestion may feel like personal attacks on one’s time, triggering irritation.
  
• Anonymity Behind the Wheel: Inside a vehicle, drivers feel anonymous and less accountable. This sense of invisibility makes it easier to act aggressively toward others who are seen as obstacles rather than people.
  
• Perceived Injustice or Entitlement: Drivers often feel justified in reacting when others violate road rules. This “I’m right, you’re wrong” mindset can provoke retaliatory behavior.
  
• Aggressive Personality Traits: Some individuals naturally have lower tolerance for frustration and are prone to anger or impulsivity.
  
• Environmental Triggers: Heavy traffic, loud noises, hot weather, long commutes, sleep deprivation, alcohol, or aggressive music can impair judgment and increase irritability.
  
• Cultural Norms and Learned Behavior: In some cultures or families, aggressive driving is normalized or even admired, which can perpetuate such behavior across generations.

Distracted Driving: A Growing Danger

Distracted driving compounds road rage and increases accident risk. Common distractions include:

• Using mobile phones for calls, texting, or social media
  
• Eating, drinking, smoking, playing with your nails, face, hair, or reading while driving
  
• Adjusting radio, GPS, or climate controls
  
• Talking or arguing with passengers
  
• Daydreaming or losing focus

These distractions reduce reaction time and situational awareness, making it harder to respond safely to road hazards or aggressive drivers.

How to Avoid Road Rage

Preventing road rage begins with self-awareness and preparation. Some effective strategies include:

• Allowing extra travel time to ease time pressure
  
• Practicing deep breathing or other calming techniques during stressful moments – or even making the decision to not drive, if possible, when you feel stressed or upset
  
• Playing relaxing music or podcasts to create a soothing environment
  
• Reframing other drivers’ mistakes as unintentional rather than personal offenses
  
• Letting go of the need to “win” or be right on the road
  
• Avoiding eye contact, gestures, or verbal exchanges with aggressive drivers
  

When Another Driver Exhibits Road Rage

If confronted by an aggressive driver – tailgating, honking, or shouting – the safest approach is to remain calm and avoid engagement. Helpful mindsets include:

• Recognizing that aggressive behavior is usually not personal but habitual
  
• Allowing the aggressive driver to pass is a sign of wisdom, not weakness
  
• Understanding that it’s not your responsibility to “teach a lesson”
  
• Prioritizing safety and calm over proving a point
  
• Driving to a public area or contacting authorities if threats escalate
  

Often, once the aggressive driver passes you, that same driver will exhibit the same disrespect and misbehavior toward the next vehicle. I always refer to it as the driver is “onto their next victim.”  This underscores that the problem lies with them, not you.

New Drivers and the Myth of Invincibility

A notable group that affects road safety is new drivers, often teenagers or young adults, who sometimes believe they are invincible behind the wheel. This sense of invulnerability stems from a mix of youthful confidence, lack of driving experience, and sometimes an underestimation of risks. Media portrayals of fast, fearless drivers and peer pressure can also reinforce this mindset.

This belief leads some new drivers to take unnecessary risks, such as speeding, tailgating, abrupt lane changes, or distracted driving. Their overconfidence and inexperience can cause unpredictable behavior that frustrates and endangers other road users.

Other drivers often react with irritation or anger toward reckless new drivers, which can contribute to a cycle of road rage. Moreover, the mistakes or misjudgments by new drivers increase the likelihood of accidents, posing a threat to themselves and everyone else on the road.

In general, helping new drivers recognize their vulnerabilities through proper education, supervised practice, and emphasizing patience and respect on the road is essential. Encouraging a realistic understanding of driving risks can reduce dangerous behaviors and help to improve overall road safety. 

Elderly Drivers and the Difficult Decision to Stop Driving

A related issue affecting road safety is the situation faced by many elderly drivers who must eventually give up driving. For seniors, driving often symbolizes independence and freedom. However, age-related declines in vision, reflexes, cognition, and motor skills can affect their driving safety, increasing risks for themselves and others.

The decision to stop driving can be emotionally challenging, causing feelings of loss, frustration, and isolation. When addressing these challenges, it’s important for the elderly person to understand that putting their own life in danger is up to them, but putting the lives of other drivers is non-negotiable. This eventual transition sometimes leads to anxiety or irritability, which can even contribute to tense or aggressive behavior on the road.

Supporting elderly drivers through this process involves:

• Encouraging regular health and vision screenings to assess fitness for driving
  
• Informing seniors about alternative transportation options
  
• Promoting patience and empathy from other drivers when encountering elderly motorists
  
• Helping seniors maintain social connections and mobility through accessible transit or ride-sharing services

If a family is having a difficult time convincing their elderly person that it is time to give up driving for safety reasons, the healthcare professional in the elderly person’s life can be a good resource to take the heat on the decision to no longer drive. The conversation should be one of compassion, stressing road safety within the community, while at the same time respecting the dignity and independence of older adults.

Respecting the Weather: Safe Driving in All Conditions

Weather can turn even the simplest drive into a serious hazard if you’re not paying attention. Rain, ice, sleet, snow—and even bright sunshine—can all drastically affect road conditions and visibility. It’s crucial to respect the weather and adjust your driving accordingly.

Remember that even if you have special tires for the weather, or if you drive a big vehicle or similar, those things are not a guarantee that you will be kept safe. Being mindful of the conditions, and making intelligent and safe decisions, including holding off from driving for a few hours, will be what keeps you safe.

Rain reduces tire traction and increases stopping distances. Slow down and give yourself extra space between vehicles. Always use your headlights and avoid cruise control in heavy rain.

Ice and sleet create extremely slippery surfaces. Even if a road looks clear, black ice may be present. Drive slowly, avoid sudden braking or turning, and be especially cautious on bridges and overpasses, which freeze faster than regular roads.

Snow affects both visibility and traction. Clear your entire vehicle of snow and ice before driving. Use gentle steering and acceleration, and leave extra space between cars.

If you haven’t cleared the snow off the roof of your car, it can slide onto your windshield and obstruct your view completely, or it can fly off the back of your car and land on the car behind you, causing a dangerous situation for that driver. I have experienced both; they were jarring and dangerous situations. Some states have laws that you have to clear off your entire vehicle, including the roof. Regardless of whether your state has such a law, if snow from your car causes an accident, you could be considered a reckless driver in the legal world.

Bright sunshine might seem harmless, but glare can obscure traffic signals, other cars, or pedestrians. or simply the road in front of you. Keep your windshield clean, use sunglasses, and slow down when visibility is limited by the sun. Driving due east or due west at “just the right time of day,” can completely blind you. I have experienced this; it can come upon you in a split second, creating an unnerving and dangerous situation.

No matter the weather, overconfidence and recklessness can turn dangerous situations into disasters. Respect the conditions, stay alert, and adjust your driving to keep yourself and others safe on the road.

Final Thoughts

Driving safely is more than a personal choice—it reflects a collective promise to look out for everyone who shares the road. It involves controlling our emotions, steering clear of distractions, being patient with inexperienced drivers, and showing kindness to older individuals behind the wheel. Putting others in danger is never okay; each of us plays a part in fostering a respectful and secure driving atmosphere.

Traffic can be stressful, and it’s easy to lose patience or assume others are driving poorly on purpose. However, choosing to remain calm rather than react with anger, staying alert instead of distracted, and responding with understanding instead of criticism can prevent accidents and save lives. Our roads should be places of cooperation, not conflict.

Ultimately, the way we drive says a lot about how we regard others, even those we may never meet. Practicing patience, focus, and compassion while driving helps create a safer environment for all and reflects a broader culture of mutual respect and shared responsibility.

“Every time you get behind the wheel, you’re making a choice—be a protector, not a threat.” – Author Unknown

Copyright ©2025. Suzann Peterson. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this text or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address the publisher.