Do traffic jams make you manic? Does your blood pressure boil whenever you turn onto the freeway? Sounds like you could be suffering from road rage. As the most acute form of aggressive driving, road rage is a factor in one-third of all collisions and nearly two-thirds of resulting fatalities (source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Many of these accidents happen during rush hour – also known as “all day, every day” in downtown Boston. If you’re traveling in a Boston car rental during your upcoming Beantown trip, stay cool. Yelling, gesturing or tailgating isn’t going to improve your commute.
The following are a few common sense suggestions to help you avoid road rage while traveling around Boston.
1) Don’t Make Assumptions
The first thing to remember is that careless or speeding drivers are NOT out to get you. In fact, most careless drivers aren’t even aware that they’re doing anything wrong. Before you lose your cool, put yourself in the other driver’s seat. Is your driving up to snuff? We all make mistakes, especially when driving an unfamiliar Boston car rental. It’s important to remember this before you react negatively to another driver’s actions.
2) Refuse to Engage
When another Boston car rental driver gives you a dirty look or gestures rudely in your direction, don’t get angry. Instead, ask yourself if you deserved it. If you’re driving skills are subpar, make a mental note and try and avoid making the same mistakes again. It’s important to remember that you can’t control other drivers, but you can control your reaction to them. Don’t let emotions get the best of you – stay calm and follow the rules of the road.
3) Find Your Happy Place
Sure, it sounds a little New Agey, but knowing how to calm yourself down can be a huge asset when attempting to tackle an across town commute. If you’re starting to feel hot under the collar when driving your Boston car rental, stop and take a breath. Roll your shoulders, lighten your grip on the steering wheel and relax. Take time to process your response before immediately jumping into action.
4) Tune Out
Music is a great way to avoid road rage, so start working on your Boston car rental playlist. Relaxing music will help you stay mellow, even in the most frustrating of situations. You should also consider turning off your cell phone (nerve-rattling conversations with your boss or significant other aren’t going to help matters). It’s also a good idea to avoid any aggressive music or engaging in volatile conversations with passengers.
5) Educate Yourself
If you’re constantly feeling frustrated when driving your Boston car rental, seek out some help. Educate yourself on the causes of road rage, and possible treatments. Knowledge is key, after all; road rage is mostly a battle of ignorance. The more knowledge you have, the more enjoyable your commute will be.
Road rage can be caused by a variety of circumstances, events and environments. In many cases, it’s completely normal for you to become defensive when confronted with a frustrating driving experience. Things become dicey when feelings of frustration turn into physical reactions. Getting out of one’s Boston car rental vehicle and throwing a hissy fit certainly isn’t going to improve your commute, so why bother?
When it comes to handling congestion in Beantown, simply prepare for the worst. Leave early, sync up some good music, and enjoy the ride!
Tags: Boston car rental
