There are few things more frustrating in life than some classic road rage.
Millions of drivers hit the road every day, but ones that drive poorly always stand out the most. An incident causing you to feel road rage can easily ruin your commute or the whole day if you let it.
Many drivers would benefit from a brush up on essential road rules regardless of how long they've been driving.
As a teen driver, you're still learning and this can make it difficult to keep your emotions in check. However, acting on your road rage is dangerous and pointless!
Let's take a look at how teens have it harder when it comes to feeling and dealing with road rage!
Any Driver Can Experience Road Rage
No matter how level-headed you view yourself, there's a great chance that you've experienced road rage at some point in your life. There's just something about driving that brings out some intense feelings of anger inside us.
Whether it's because someone cuts you off, brake checks you, tailgates you, honks their horn, flips you off, or disrespects you in any way, there are many things other drivers can do to fuel your rage.
Often these sleights are real, but sometimes they are perceived incorrectly and are just a simple mistake made by another driver.
When you're a new driver, it's hard enough to drive well yourself. Anyone other drivers driving poorly can make your job much tougher and it isn't fair at all!
As a teen, several factors are working against you that make it easier to feel road rage. This isn't your fault, but you are in control of how you behave and handle the situation.
Teens Don't Have Enough Driving Experience
The first thing that predisposes you to road rage is your lack of driving experience.
As you begin to put years of driving under your belt, you'll surely see a lot of foolish mistakes and poor driving. Without experience, you'll witness these frustrations for the first time and it can be downright scary to deal with!
Furthermore, you won't know the best way to handle these situations, which puts you at risk. Sure, another driver cutting you off is annoying, but that's no reason to not slow down and create stopping distance between you and the offending driver.
When you're young, you just haven't yet experienced the scenarios that create road rage. Because of this, you won't know how to deescalate and keep yourself safe.
Teen Brains Are Still Developing
Another factor you can't control is your underdeveloped brain.
While you may feel mature and capable behind the wheel, your brain is not yet done developing. It is physically impossible to have a fully adult brain as a teenager.
Human brains do not finish forming the prefrontal cortex until around age 25. This is the part of your brain responsible for making rational decisions.
Understanding this, you can see why adults tend to make more rational choices than kids and teens. This isn't always the case, but it rings true as a general statement.
Failing to make fully rational decisions means that you're more inclined to behave irrationally.
Feeling road rage is not necessarily irrational, but acting on that feeling is. This is where problems come into play, where a teen may take action that worsens a situation with another driver.
As a result, you may drive aggressively, give other drivers the finger, or slam on your horn. All of these are completely irrational and will only anger another driver.
Driving Creates a Natural Outlet for Anger
The anonymity of driving care tends to create a perfect outlet to release pent up anger.
That isn't to say that all road rage incidents are a result of underlying frustration, but someone cutting you off on the road is less likely to infuriate you if you're calm and collected overall.
Drivers feel safe and invulnerable while inside their vehicles. It's easy to not view other drivers as human beings when there isn't any direct, face-to-face interaction with them.
In a way, driving is similar to the freedom of the internet. People hiding behind a computer feel much safer saying something they wouldn't normally say in-person.
Drivers hiding inside their vehicles feel like their actions won't result in consequences, which leads to aggressive displays of road rage.
You're never completely safe inside a vehicle or online. Other drivers are real people with genuine emotions and feelings, which can make them unpredictable and lead to choices that endanger you!
How to Manage Road Rage
If you've ever felt road rage before, then you should learn how to effectively manage it. This will naturally become easier as you age, but that's no excuse to not try and exhibit more patience right now.
Handling your road rage will keep you and your car safe, while also helping to keep you have a clear head while driving.
Here are a few tips for limiting any road rage:
● Don't take anything personally - it's not you, it's them!
● Be mindful of your breathing and take deep breaths when you feel angry.
● Have patience and understanding for others - both you and they are bound to make mistakes!
● Remember that you are not in charge of punishing other drivers.
● Prioritize your safety over passing emotions that aren't important.
You should also focus on your driving habits and make sure you avoid driving aggressively.
This means no tailgating, gestures, excessive horn-honking, or slow driving. Make sure to give any aggressive drivers extra space and don't make eye contact with them.
There is never a good reason to react to your road rage, but feeling it is almost inevitable. Nothing is more important than safely getting to your destination and any satisfaction you feel from acting on your road rage will be short-lived.
Closing Thoughts
Road rage is a serious issue that affects drivers of all ages. However, teens are naturally at a disadvantage.
Many factors make it tough for a teenager to keep their cool. From your lack of driving history to your underdeveloped brain, you are just not yet equipped with the skills needed to manage road rage.
Furthermore, the security and anonymity of a vehicle provide a great environment for road rage.
Do your best to manage your emotions and ensure that you place your safety above an impulse to act on your road rage. Keeping tabs on your road rage will make you a better driver and will help keep roads safer for everyone else!
