When we’re angry, we sometimes do things we don’t intend to do. This is especially true if we’re diving and we get into a fight with another driver. It’s too tempting to put the pedal to the metal, ram our car into our adversary’s vehicle, and drive away. However, doing so can get you into heaps of legal trouble. Not only can this land you in jail, but you will also be slapped with a hefty fine, something that you definitely don’t want to happen to you.
If you want to avoid these and all that it entails, then you need to control your road rage, lest it controls you. Here are some ways that you can manage your road rage.
Take a Breather
Remember when we were kids and our parents would advise us to count to ten to control our temper? This technique still works even when we’re adults.
In stressful situations that test your temper, what you need to do is to take a step back from the situation and take deep breaths as you slowly count one through ten. Breathing slowly and taking a timeout from the stressful situation can give you a new perspective on things. You might see the humorous side of the problem, and laughing can easily diffuse the tension.
Express Yourself in a Positive Way
It’s tempting to put the blame on others, and it’s just as tempting to confront them even after you’ve calmed down a bit. However, if you really have to get it off your chest, then express yourself in a very positive way. Don’t be too confrontational, and don’t be too cruel. Instead, tell them of your concerns in an assertive yet placatory manner. You don’t want to aggravate the situation to the point that you can no longer control your temper.
Look for Solutions
You naturally want to make them see that you’re right and they’re wrong. However, this will only cause more friction between the two of you, especially if the other party is adamant that he’s not to blame. What you can do instead is to look for a solution to solve the problem. Swap contact information with him such as name, address, contact numbers, car insurance names, policy numbers, vehicle information, etc. Once done, call the police. If someone’s hurt, then call 911.
Of note though; do not leave the scene of the accident even if you’re too angry or too scared to face the consequences. Doing so will only give you more legal troubles.
Go to Anger Management Classes
If you are always getting into road troubles because of your road rage tendencies and you find that these steps are not doing anything to make you a better person, then maybe going to anger management classes can help you. It’s better that you learn from professionals how to control your temper than to suffer the consequences of getting into unnecessary fights and legal battles. This is especially true if you know you are at fault.
Don’t let your road rage consume you and get you into a lot of trouble. Learn how to control your temper, so you can look for a better and more constructive solution.
The author, Jennifer Daley, writes for a Massachusetts leaving the scene of property damage attorney. Inability to control one’s temper leading to property destruction is a crime and is punishable by law, so is leaving the scene.