Holiday Traffic: How To Avoid Road Rage

Unfortunately, there are occasions when people allow their emotions to run wild and cars have been used as dangerous weapons. Holiday traffic can be unavoidable, use these tips to stay calm and alert.

Recently a man was killed at the hands of another driver. The witness said that the two drivers appeared to be in conflict over a road rage incident. Alfred Lockett, 48, was murdered by Juan de Dios Carbajal-Jaimes. The latter is accused of fatally shooting Lockett in a CVS parking lot after their cars collided Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators were able to identify the shooter based on photographs found in Lockett’s cell phone. One shows the damage to Lockett’s vehicle while the other “displayed the male raising his right hand toward the victim while pointing his index finger.”

This road rage incident is a tragedy. Police say that if you are ever involved in a road rage incident, do not engage with the other driver. Police advise to distance yourself from the situation.

Although the holidays are meant to be something where we share our love for our community and those people we love. One thing we ought to aspire to do is let go of our anger and fast paced lifestyles to enjoy each and every moment we have (especially those we have away from work!) However, inevitably we will end up having to run a last minute errand or remember to buy that gift we had told ourselves not to forget. Somehow we end up remembering this at the exact same moment as everyone else and we hurry quickly out the door to try and beat the crowd only to see our neighbor heading out in the same hurried fashion. Oh please don’t let there be too many people at the mall or the grocery store…. We all know the answer.

So how do we deal with holiday traffic and assure ourselves that everything is going to be okay and still make joy out of it? Here are a few tips.

First Thing is First, Remember That You Can’t Control Everything!

Sure, maybe you forgot to get the pie or an ingredient for your favorite dish, but let that go. It’s the holiday. Things happen. In the big scheme of things, none of this will matter in a few days. Put on your favorite music and think about driving safely. A great affirmation that Henry Mill has quoted for it’s amazing use in Alcoholics Anonymous is the Serenity Prayer. Whether you are not religiously affiliated or you are, repeating this or something with a similar logic can help put your mind at ease:

God [or whatever you talk to by yourself], grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things that I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference

Second, Try to Drive In the Early Early Morning

If you’ve got somewhere to be, you need a present, or you need to go to see your family, try to arrive or leave as early as possible. People are notoriously late getting up and at ‘em during the holidays. If you stay on top of the game during the holidays, you’ll get to your destinations faster and you’ll bypass the horrid holiday traffic.

Third, Don’t Listen to Annoying Music

You know that summer single that’s been playing all month. Unless you have some uncanny capability to enjoy the same songs that have played on repeat for the last three weeks, be sure to listen to some soothing music or something you enjoy. There will be plenty of time for loud music when you get back to your house or with your family.

Fourth, Deep Breaths

Driving in states of emotional intensity can be more dangerous than speeding. It leads to jerking the wheel, over-acceleration, and emotional outbursts against other drivers who don’t necessarily deserve the reaction. Just take some deep breaths, look out the windows at the beautiful sky, the happy children, and the beauty that pervades in every moment.

Fifth and last, Remember Your Loved Ones

Knowing why you are doing something can help keep the motivation and perseverance going. Remember why you are doing what you’re doing and traffic will seem like a walk in the park.