Better Driving: "Respect on the Road"

Annexes C - F: Self Help Advice

Annex C: The Microsoft Website^[16]

• Always stay alert. Be prepared for silly mistakes and/or downright stupidity by other motorists. Yes, someone will enter a box junction and block your path despite the fact that their exit road is not clear. It will happen - deal with it and don't take it personally.
• Take a deep breath and stay calm. Never retaliate if the other driver has clearly lost his or her temper. Do not show them the finger, do not make any arm and fist gestures or swear at them as you drive by and under no circumstances should you leave your vehicle to confront someone.
• If the worst has happened and you're being followed by an angry motorist, do not drive to your work place or home and do not go to a friend's home or member of your family's home either. Instead, if you're able to safely do so, write down the make, model, colour of the car and registration number and call the police. If you're unable to make a phone call, head for a police station or a crowded public place before taking down the details. Hopefully the other person will have come to their senses long before then...
• Get into the habit of acknowledging considerate driving by other motorists. If they've given way to you, thank them. And if you're the one that's made a mistake, acknowledge this. Hopefully, your tactics will be adopted by other drivers around you and we'll all benefit in the long run.
• Use your horn sparingly as even a polite honk can be misinterpreted by an aggressive driver.
• You might pride yourself on being reasonable, but there's no telling what the other driver is capable of. Never underestimate an angry person's capacity for violence. Be extremely cautious.
• Keep your distance. Do not tailgate. Not only is it dangerous and a common cause of accidents - it is intensely annoying.
• If it's a hot day and your car isn't air conditioned and you're sitting in static traffic, make sure you've got a cold drink to cool you down. Take steps to ensure the heat doesn't get to you in more ways than one...
• Try not to do anything that will irritate or antagonise other drivers. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• Listen to melodious, relaxing music in the car. Let it soothe you as you journey to your destination and hopefully, you'll enjoy a pleasanter, safer journey.

Annex D: THE American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety^[17]

(Some of the advice given below obviously relates to specific driving issues in the USA eg staying out of the far left lane, avoiding right hand lane if not turning right. But much of the general advice remains relevant to the UK)

• Lane blocking. Don't block the passing lane. Stay out of the far left lane and yield to the right for any vehicle that wants to overtake you. If someone demands to pass, allow them to do so.
• Tailgating. Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Dozens of deadly traffic altercations began when one driver tailgated another.
• Signal use. Don't switch lanes without first signalling your intention, and make sure you don't cut someone off when you move over. After you've made the manoeuvre, turn your signal off.
• Gestures. You are playing Russian roulette if you raise a middle finger to another driver. Obscene gestures have gotten people shot, stabbed, or beaten in every state.
• Horn use. Use your horn sparingly. If you must get someone's attention in a non-emergency situation, tap your horn lightly. Think twice before using your horn to say "hello" to a passing pedestrian; the driver in front of you may think you are honking at him. Don't blow your horn at the driver in front of you the second the light turns green. If a stressed-out motorist is on edge, the noise may set him off. Scores of shootings began with a driver honking the horn.
• Failure to turn. In most areas right-hand turns are allowed after a stop at a red light. Avoid the right-hand lane if you are not turning right.
• Parking. Do not take more than one parking space and do not park in a handicapped parking space if you are not handicapped. Don't allow your door to strike an adjacent parked vehicle. When parallel parking, do not tap the other vehicles with your own. Look before backing up.
• Headlight use. Keep headlights on low beam, except where unlighted conditions require the use of high beams. Dim your lights for oncoming traffic; don't retaliate to oncoming high beams with your own in order to "teach them a lesson." Don't approach a vehicle from the rear with high beams and dim your lights as soon as a passing vehicle is alongside.
• Merging. When traffic permits, move out of the right-hand acceleration lane of a freeway to allow vehicles to enter from the on-ramps.
• Blocking traffic. If you are pulling a trailer or driving a cumbersome vehicle that impedes traffic behind you, pull over when you have the opportunity so that motorists behind you can pass. Also, do not block the road while talking to a pedestrian on the sidewalk. Dozens of shooting suggest that this behaviour irritates a lot of people.
• Car phones. Don't let the car phone become a distraction - keep your eyes and attention on the road. Car phones can be great for security but bad for safety. In addition, car phone users are widely perceived as being poor drivers and as constituting a traffic hazard. The data clearly show that aggressive drivers hate fender-benders with motorists who were talking on the telephone.
• Alarms. If you have an anti-theft alarm on your vehicle, be sure you know how to turn it off. When buying an alarm, select one that turns off after a short period of time.
• Displays. Confederate flags on pickup trucks are not a good idea. Refrain from showing any type of bumper sticker or slogan that could be offensive; this might include an "IM RICH" license plate.
• Eye Contact. If a hostile motorist tries to pick a fight, do not make eye contact. This can be seen as a challenging gesture and incite the other driver to violence. Instead, get out of the way but do not acknowledge the other driver. If a motorist pursues you, do not go home. Instead, drive to a police station, convenience store, or other location where you can get help and there will be witnesses.

Reduce your own stress

• Traffic stress - indeed, anger in general - is hazardous to your health. The stress from road congestion is a major contributing factor to violent traffic disputes. Making a few simple changes in the way you approach driving can significantly reduce your stress level in the car.
• Consider altering your schedule to avoid the worst congestion. Allow plenty of time so that you do not have to speed, beat traffic lights, or roll through stop signs. Think - is it really the end of the world if you are a bit late? Could you plan your day so you could leave a little earlier?
• Improve the comfort of your vehicle. Use your air conditioner, install a tape or CD player to enjoy uninterrupted music or books on tape, and get a pillow or seat cover to make your seat more comfortable. Listen to classical music or any music that reduces your anxiety; avoid anger-inducing talk radio, for example.
• While in traffic, concentrate on being relaxed. Don't clench your teeth. Loosen your grip on the wheel, take a deep breath, and do limited exercises and stretches for your arms and legs.
• Don't drive when you are angry, upset, or overtired.

Annex E: Automobile Association^[18]

• If you're being hassled by another driver, try not to react. Avoid making eye contact, as this is often seen as confrontational. Don't be tempted to accelerate, brake, or swerve suddenly; again, this may be seen as confrontational and increases your chances of losing control of your vehicle.
• If a driver continues to hassle you or you think you are being followed, drive on to the nearest police station or busy place to get help.
• In town, lock the car doors and keep the windows and sunroof only partly open.
• When stopped in traffic, leave enough space to pull out from behind the car you are following.
• If someone tries to get into your car, attract attention by sounding your horn or a personal alarm.
• Do not be tempted to start a fight and do not be tempted to carry any sort of weapon. It may only provoke a potential assailant and could end up in his or her hands.
• Before starting a journey, make sure that you know how to get to your destination and, if possible, have an alternate route in mind or at least an atlas in the car. Think about the timing of the journey - you wouldn't want to be travelling the M25 at 5:15 p.m. on a Friday.
• Make sure your car is regularly serviced and carry out routine checks (tyre pressure, oil, water, etc.) regularly. Carry spare items (bulbs, fan belt, emergency sign for the windshield, etc.). Also, make sure your windshield is clean, particularly before a long journey. Peering through a dirty windshield is a common source of stress and fatigue when driving. Also, have a window cloth, de-icer, and sunglasses accessible.
• Make sure that you are comfortable before starting the journey. Adjust your seat and mirrors. You should also ensure that your seat belt and head restraint are correctly positioned, if they are adjustable.
• Too often we have unreasonable expectations of journey times. Take journeys in easy stages and never remain behind the wheel of a car for more than three hours without a break. Don't try to cover more than 300 miles a day and, on a long trip, be careful on the second day of driving - this is when you tend to be most vulnerable to fatigue.
• When you take a break, make sure that you get out of the car and stretch your legs. Eat a light snack but avoid heavy meals, particularly at lunchtime. Try to avoid eating in noisy, crowded places.
• The likelihood of getting stressed while driving is largely dependent on your attitude of mind before you even turn the key in the ignition. Wind down before you crank up. Try to take one or two minutes to concentrate your mind on the task at hand and try to forget about other problems when driving.
• Anticipate situations that are likely to wind you up and be tolerant of other road users' errors. If you find yourself in congestion, try to accept that there is probably very little that you could have done or can do to prevent the delay.
• Take remedial action before stress and fatigue get the better of you. Learn to spot the warning signs and develop positive coping strategies, such as listening to the radio or a cassette (many people listen to novels or humorous tapes in jams).
• Wind down the windows to increase ventilation and consciously breathe in the air slowly. Also, don't grip the steering wheel too hard as this will tense arm and neck muscles, leading to fatigue symptoms such as headaches.
• If your mind is full of images of recent events or you are replaying conversations repeatedly in your mind, make a conscious effort to slow them down until they become softer and more distant.

Annex F: Dixon Motors^[19]

• Ensure the inside of your car is a pleasant environment eg clean, comfortable soothing music and nice smelling, with good company
• Drive at a leisurely rate
• Leave earlier than you normally would
• Map out your directions well in advance of getting in your car
• Be empathetic and polite towards other drivers
• Leave law enforcement to the police
• Being courteous is not a weakness; you can be flexible and remain in control eg intentionally let someone in ahead of you
• Don't rise to the bait - refuse to react to aggressive or drive riskily
• Don't let the car change your identity; it is your car that has the power
• Place stickers on your dashboard to remind you that road rage kills
• Think in new ways to help you see the bigger picture eg maybe he is lost
• Use supportive driving affirmations eg I will have a safe, relaxed and enjoyable drive. I am happy to allow another car into my lane. Driving carefully gets me there safely

Do:

• Ignore gestures and inconsiderate driving
• Watch for aggressive or risky drivers and keep your distance from them
• Be prepared to admit to an error and apologise using clear hand signals

Don't:

• Provoke other drivers by swearing, engaging eye contact or signals
• Roll down your window and yell or threaten
• Block the passing lane
• Flash your high beams
• Do anything that you would not do face-to-face
• Take it upon yourself to punish another driver

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16: cars.uk.msn.com/news/car_news_article.aspx?cp-documentid=475134.
17: Advice taken from a paper "Aggressive Driving" by Louis Mizell, Bethesda, MD prepared for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfm?button=agdrtext.
18: Advice taken from a paper "Road Rage" by Matthew Joint, MSc, BSc, MCIT prepared for The Automobile Association Group Public Policy Road Safety Unit www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfm?button=agdrtext.
19: www.dixonmotors.co.uk.

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