Cut others some slack and don’t let everyday stresses creep into your car’s cabin - here’s an expert view on how to banish winter road rage this January.
For countless motorists on UK roads, a cold, post-festive, often bleak January can make for miserable driving conditions.
The upcoming Monday 16th January is also recognised as ‘Blue Monday’, the so-called ‘most depressing day of the year’, thanks to an unwanted mix of low motivation levels and the arrival of Yuletide credit card bills.
Those low moods could easily translate into frayed tempers when behind the wheel in the coming days.
But there are steps you can take to try and keep hot-heads in check, even if you’re tempted to lose your rag.
Dennis Relojo-Howell (below) is managing director of the UK psychology website Psychreg and the author of 2020 book Let’s Talk About Behaviour: Essays on Psychology, Mental Health, and Well-being.
And, speaking exclusively to Select Car Leasing - the UK’s largest independent specialists for car and van leasing - Relojo-Howell says it’s crucial you don’t bring external stresses onto the road as additional baggage.
He explains:
“Road rage is often escalated by external factors we experience in our day-to-day lives.
“In particular, when we experience stressful situations in other areas of our lives, it’s common for them to extend to different situations - including when you’re driving.
"Other reasons why road rage can occur can include being in a hurry, being frustrated with other drivers, or being angry about something that happened earlier in the day.
“When road rage occurs, it can cause a driver to lose focus and make careless mistakes.
"And while road rage may seem like a minor annoyance, it can be dangerous. Aggressive driving can lead to accidents and, in some cases, even fatalities.
"That’s why staying calm and focused is important when behind the wheel. If you are angry while driving, try to take a deep breath and relax."
Beyond just how dangerous it is, road rage could also land you a hefty fine.
Select Car Leasing recently revealed how beeping your horn in anger, making a rude gesture, or tailgating a driver who has ‘wronged’ you, could see you slapped with a fine, penalty points or even result in your car being seized.
While ‘road rage’ is not a specific crime, many of the consequences of losing your temper fall under other criminal offences, such as careless driving, disorderly conduct or anti-social driving.
Making a rude gesture or honking your horn inappropriately could see you hit with a fine of up to £1,000.
Meanwhile psychology expert Relojo-Howell says cutting others some slack in their behaviour is crucial to keeping tempers in check.
He adds:
“My advice for how to manage road rage would be to remember that other people are just trying to get where they’re going – just like you.
“Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, so cut others some slack.
"A little kindness certainly goes a long way – and it might also stop someone else from experiencing road rage further down the line, as each incident has a knock-on effect that can snowball out of control.
“Anyone who has spent time on the roads knows there is a lot of anger."
Graham Conway, Managing Director of Select Car Leasing, echoes that sentiment and says that you should never set off on a journey when you’re already feeling aggrieved or annoyed.
He says:
“If you know you’re already in a foul mood before you set off on a journey, don’t turn on your car’s engine until you’ve taken a few moments to calm down.
“Try to maintain a sense of perspective and recognise that another motorist’s behaviour, however poor, is not necessarily targeted at you. And you don’t know what’s going on in that person’s life, either.”
If you do experience a road rage incident while driving, remain calm and don’t allow yourself to be goaded into a disagreement.
Select Car Leasing’s Mr Conway adds:
“De-escalation is key. Even if you feel like someone’s driving is aggressive, or downright dangerous, becoming agitated and upset about it yourself is only going to make the situation worse.
“If someone is tailgating you, for example, simply pull over when it’s safe to do so and let them on their way without reacting adversely.
“And, if you need to, find somewhere to park your car and stop completely in order to give yourself a couple of minutes to calm down and re-set.
“At the end of the day, no bout of road rage is going to solve any problems. It’ll make you feel worse, you risk creating a terrifying danger for other road users, and you could well find yourself in trouble with the law.”
It’s not just January that’s a potential road-rage sweet spot - the summer months can create a boiling point, too.
Last year Select Car Leasing delved-into the scientific links between warm weather and road rage.
Meanwhile road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist also included a road rage tip on their list of the five things all drivers should be doing in 2023.
The firm said:
"Hold back. Make a pledge that you won’t react to the actions of other drivers. Nobody’s perfect, so don’t waste time and increase risk by trying to rebuke another road user. Focus on holding back and staying safe."
** To read more about psychology, mental health and wellness, head to www.psychreg.org
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