Road rage, where drivers become irate behind the wheel, remains a problem in the United States. In fact, according to a survey by the insurance aggregator the Zebra, 82% of drivers report having felt angry at some point while driving. Even worse, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that at least one person dies every single day because of road rage.
As a parent, you want your teen driver to stay safe every time he or she leaves home. When it comes to teen-driver safety, though, you have an important role to play. That is, you must teach the teen in your family both how to avoid road rage and how to deal with angry drivers. Here are some tips:
Limit annoying behaviors
Like drivers of other ages, teen motorists are human. While everyone occasionally makes driving mistakes, your teen should try to limit annoying behaviors. Speeding, tailgating, honking, failing to signal and engaging in other similar behaviors may aggravate other drivers. Moreover, these actions are often dangerous. As such, you should try to convey to your teen the importance of driving reasonably, predictably and responsibly.
Disengage immediately
Dangerous road-rage situations do not often happen instantaneously. On the contrary, they usually escalate over seconds or minutes. If your teen driver notices another motorist becoming angry, disengagement is essential. Slowing down, facing forward, minimizing contact and focusing on the road are usually good strategies.
Control emotions
Whether they are on a cross-country trip or a short commute, all drivers must share the road. Still, traffic congestion can cause anyone’s blood to boil. When coaching the young driver in your family about avoiding road rage, you must instill upon him or her the importance of controlling emotions. Put simply, if your teen becomes angry, his or her chances of having an altercation increase.
All parents experience some sense of anxiety when their teenagers take to the road. You do not, however, want your teen to fall victim to road rage. Fortunately, with some coaching and a bit of patience, you can likely teach your son or daughter to be a safe driver.