Anger: Road Rage

[Jonathan]

I know a lot of us suffer from anger issues. It does not matter what my mood but even the smallest idiot on the road seems to inflame some intense road rage. My questions is: When driving, do the smallest mistakes trigger your anger?

[Marlene]

I heard that a person doesn't really learn to cuss until they learn to drive. Kind of a telling statement.

As for me, my mood and my stress levels all tend to dictate how much anger I get at other drivers who have bone-head moments. Sometimes I can laugh it off and sometimes I have to stop driving for a moment and sit to get my anger back under control.

Lisa

[She Cat]

I didn't vote as there wasn't a sometimes. I guess like Lisa, it would depend on my mood and stress level. There are certain things from other drivers that really piss me off.

[ruddy]

I voted no. Small mistakes made by other drivers don't upset me much at all. We all make them even though we may not want to admit it.

Recklessness is a different subject.

[Kathy]

Wendy, I added "sometimes" for you or anyone else who wishes to vote for that option.

[Jonathan]

With all due respect i did not want a sometimes or i would have added it. let me clarify what i mean since having PTSD this is someting that triggers my anger.

Can omeone please remove "sometimes"

thank you

John

[Kathy]

John, I added "sometimes" so that the people who only experience road rage part of the time, in certain circumstances or mood, may also vote in your poll. Otherwise those people are excluded and the poll is not as accurate.

[anthony]

Hi John,

Polls are edited, posts are edited, we reserve that right to ensure things are portrayed to the members as accurately as possible.

Anthony

[She Cat]

Kathy,

Thank you for adding the sometimes. Although I didn't realize it would cause a problem. I wasn't looking for a fight nor to piss anyone off. I merely wanted to vote, but couldn't.

[Claire]

Hello Jonathan, I voted 'sometimes' myself. Its not as black and white as yes or no. I do lose it but when I'm going through a bad time, not slept well or are just having a bad day with loads of trigger. Otherwise I'm ok.

[Lisa]

I voted sometimes. In driving lessons my driving instructor used to get a bit scared! But there were times he was just as mad as me, and hell I'd be up so close to that car's backside, following them all the way up the road (or alternatively driving so slowly all the way up the road and then "stall" just as the lights turn amber to red)...! I am actually WORSE as a passenger though...

only sometimes though... when I'm having a REALLY bad day

[Jonathan]

it was a question about angar not road rage thats why there was not a sometimes on the poll but its done now

[TDurden1937]

Good day friends -

Well, I've driven many miles . . . sometimes a hundred mile round trip to work, and in Seattle where the traffic is really bad, I mean really bad.

Having flipped people off, tail gated so others couldn't get in front of me, and generally being an aggressive unpleasant driver . . . I came to realize that I was not the only person under stress on the road. And if I wanted to make a contribution to sane driving, and incidentally there were and are a lot of injuries and deaths to innocent people from aggressive driving here in the Seattle area, I would have to become an accommodating driver. You want to pull in front of me, no problem. I stay the full one car length behind for every ten miles over the speed limit. I always put my blinker on before I move to a different lane and don't move until I see that someone sees me and has made a move to let me over.

A big difference came when i had a son. I realized then that I don't want to have anything to do with hurting a child, a father or a mother, and certainly not be involved in a death or a road rage murder (which has happened rather too frequently around here) no matter what highway provocation there is. So now its cool . . . I drive to let other people play out there driving habits in front of me. Want to flip me of . . . have a good day, or perhaps a better day. Crowd in front, here let me get out of your way. Tail gate me, just a sec. and let me move over . . . so sorry.

I'm not perfect. And when I do act aggressively, I immediately regret it. It doesn't happen very often. My problem with rage is in other areas, like getting p*ss*d at my computer and smashing it to parts. Not cool. I'm doing better on this one. Haven't smashed a computer in, well, its been months:)

[batgirl]

it was a question about angar not road rage thats why there was not a sometimes on the poll but its done now

Yeah but Jonathan, you can have anger sometimes and sometimes not. I don't get your point? Maybe you need to explain a bit better so Anthony and Kathy know what you're talking about. Me, I also voted sometimes, because while driving my anger is sometimes triggered but other times not. It really does depend on how I'm feeling that day.

[cherryblossom]

I voted 'sometimes', because it really does depend on my mood.

I drive a lot, and I have advanced driving skills. I drive under emergency conditions and consider that I am a good driver.

Depending on my mood I will either be accepting of other peoples mistakes or downright annoyed that people so lacking in skills are allowed on the road.

People who are 'bad' drivers annoy me, because I have seen too often the carnage that results from 'bad' driving.

[veiled_misery]

i voted sometimes.. i feel like my anger comes out now when im driving instead of other places where it would cause me more visible harm like it used to

[JustJane]

I think I'm too slow thinking to be angry at the way others drive. But having said that, I also am a slow driver. I go the speed limit, but rarely over it. If someone rides my bumper, I pull off the road at the first possible opportunity to let them pass. I don't want to be shot because someone didn't give themselves plenty of time to get where they are going. I really think paranoia is an issue with me.

[indigo~in~0z]

through becoming more spiritual i have learnt to be mostly more calm, but i do have my moments where my 'other side' shows its oh not so feminine side!

[ChrisB]

I know a lot of us suffer from anger issues. It does not matter what my mood but even the smallest idiot on the road seems to inflame some intense road rage. My questions is: When driving, do the smallest mistakes trigger your anger?
Jonathan- I responded no to this question. Yet, in hindsight, at the begining I was certain that someone in one of those cars was going to run in to me on purpose. As I looked out ahead of me I was very aware that the scenery was going by at an unreal speed. I am better with that now, thank God. Self talk helped.

[Marine0311]

People like to play games, that really want me to break out my gun and give'em a Double Tap!

I've practically run people off the road! My latest thing is Truckers driving slow in the far left lane. Here where I live they can do that. Most states dont allow them in the far left.

Only if I had some grenades! I really should not drive!

[Mick]

I'm very bad about this I can't handle someone even honking at me sometimes even when I'm in the wrong. My finger can fly faster than my brain can stop it.

[cactus_jack]

I don't think there are enough choices. You get specific over "yes", but too generalized over "no". It's really a myriad of grays instead of black and white.

I used to have a problem with it. Now, I just look the other way and smile. I'm not in the same room as the other guy. I go my way and he goes his. We have no further contact, thus no reason to be angry.

Marlene, if you learned to cuss when you learned to drive, I hope you don't learn to ride a street bike! Your vocabulary will soon be vast!

[dedic8edmum]

Most definately sharing the road with "bad drivers" really cranks up the aniexty level in my car. I just can't refrain myself from commenting aloud even if it is only to myself. I've never confronted anyone and seldom flip anyone off. Instead I stew all by myself! This might sound ridiculous but I interpret their bad habits as total disregard for the lives of others that share the road with them. Besides stupidity bad driving has to be my biggest pet peeve. Often a "bad expereince" will stick to me for days, I'm almost to the point where I don't drive at all!

**As a newbie, It amazes me how enlightening it can be to write down your thoughts, and peruse others and learn I'm not all alone!!** Thanks a bunch

Jenn