Keep yourself, your family, and those who drive around you as safe as possible by avoiding road rage. These simple tips will help you. The key is to get in the right frame of mind while driving. Many of us have alternate personalities when we get behind the wheel. Would your family and friends recognize you if they secretly were able to observe you driving?

Leave Early: Nothing makes a person more upset while driving than being late. Especially if we think all other cars are driving way too slow just at the moment we are in a hurry. Honking, yelling, and gesturing are common occurrences to those we think are just holding us up.
Check Traffic Reports: This goes hand in hand with the first item above. Avoid possible trouble spots.
Check for Road Work and Shutdowns: Getting upset at traffic workers can only raise your blood pressure. Knowing where they are can be a way of reducing stress. You may not be able to use an alternate route, but knowing what to expect can help you prepare your feelings.
Be Aware of Other Cars at All Times: Look closely when switching lanes. People get very upset at being cut off. But things happen. If you cut someone off, you may be able to signal to them that you made a mistake. Avoid a confrontation. Many times in traffic we can predict when someone might cut us off. Be prepared. If someone does, try and give them the benefit of the doubt. Think of times when you have accidentally cut someone off.
Let Things Go: This goes with the previous one. If someone slams on their brakes, cuts you off, or does anything to upset you, take a deep breath. In the large scheme of things, it just does not matter. Do you remember the guy who cut you off last week? Probably not.
Avoid Problems! Know in advance when you will exit. Do not be in the fast lane and zip across 3 lanes of traffic to exit at the last minute. If people are entering the freeway or highway into your lane. let them in. How frustrated have you been when people will not let you in?
Give Up the Parking Space! If you see someone who just has to have the spot you are going for, let them have it. Parking a little further away is no big deal. More exercise!
Know Where You Are and Where You Are Going: To suddenly stop to read road signs can be irritating to a local driver behind you. If this is your situation, it is better to safely pull over until traffic is past. Or, even stopping off the road and asking for directions is better! And the flip side is to be aware that in your local driving are there may be people in this situation! No need to honk or gesture!
Never Follow it Up! If you do get in a road rage situation, safely meld into the traffic. Do not follow or prolong it. Only bad things will follow, nothing good. If you do witness something that is really unsafe, have someone use a cell phone to call the police
Avoid Multi-taskers : If you see someone putting on makeup, dressing, talking on the cell phone, try and get in another lane. Your observing this bad behavior will only raise your ire. The flip side is to not do this yourself. For some reason, people think it is their duty to chastise the public, including you, on what they feel is bad road behavior.
Prevent Road Rage, But... You may at some point just irritate someone to the point of persuing you. Get someone to use a cell phone and call police. Try to avoid using your cell phone. Not safe. Or, have 911 as a button you can just press without looking. If you cannot do this, drive to the nearest police station, fire station, or any other public service building you can think of. You really do not want to be in this situation. Avoid road rage!

Stephen Carr, webmaster for www.SaveMoreGas.com
Visit his website for more tips on saving gas, money, and auto safety.