Steering clear of road rage

It is a problem and one many of us often witness while driving.

Road rage is uncontrolled anger or aggressive behavior behind the wheel, and it not only impacts the driver’s mental health but can be extremely dangerous, especially if the anger escalates.

From commuting to work to running errands, Americans spend a lot of time in their cars and sometimes, being behind the wheel can bring out a lot of different feelings.

“Nothing is more stressful than being in traffic,” Albers said.

Psychologist Susan Albers with Cleveland Clinic says road rage can happen when a driver is unable to regulate those emotions. She says some drivers may think they’re anonymous behind the wheel and react in a way they wouldn’t normally.

“You could feel in danger and this naturally kicks off the fight or flight response, which triggers cortisol to flood throughout our body,” Albers said. “And this can make us feel very aggressive.”

To steer clear of experiencing feelings of road rage, Alvarez says to first check in with yourself if you’re anxious, tired, hungry, or stressed. These are all things that can impact a person’s mood while driving. And make sure your car is cool. She says hot cars can trigger hot tempers.

“Turn on the air conditioning, roll down the windows. This is going to help you to regulate your temperature and help you to feel calmer,” Albers said.

Next, give other drivers the benefit of the doubt. Alvarez says we often attribute their behavior to being aggressive or a personality trait, but we can’t see into their world.

She also says nothing triggers road rage like feeling behind or being late. So, she says to make sure to give yourself extra time before leaving.

“This is going to help you to feel calmer, regulate your emotions, and give you the space to buffer any kind of delays,” Albers said.