How do you deal with the increasing amount of stress associated with driving?

Question

It is becoming harder and harder to remain relaxed while driving. You get tailgated, cut off or stalled while some moron just decides to stop on a busy street. Most people are very aggressive and selfish. I remember things were relatively more civilized 10 years ago when I first started driving. Now the roads have become a modern day coliseum where everyone seeming wants to tear each other apart so they get their way. Personally I get stressed within 15 minutes of getting into my car. I tried to be nice and relaxed but it's hard in such a mad situation. What's your take and anyone have tricks they do to stay calm?

Answer 1

I USED to have stress when I was younger and immature. Now that I've grown up, the stress is magically gone.

Answer 2

Don't loose your cool at this some point, but by planning ahead and keeping things in perspective, you can prevent your emotions from getting the best of you.

Putting aggressive driving in park will help to ensure your own safety, as well as the safety of everyone around you.

Answer 3

A lot of people give up and take the bus.  I used to drive for a large city bus service and it is amazing just who rides those rapids into the city everyday.  Used to have a whole company of engineers ride across town every morning.  They would get on the bus with their thermos of coffee and the paper and by the time they were through, they were at work.  I even had a woman thank me because I always waited for her perpetually late husband and because he was so much more relaxed when I did the driving.  Best advice is just leave in pleanty of time, if people want in-let them in, keep plenty of room in front of you (and all around you if you can), if people keep cutting in just keep dropping back safely.  You stay relaxed and keep an eye on everyone.  If someone is tailgating, just slow down and also allow even more room in front of yourself.  Just let them all go and keep yourself safe.  There are defensive driving courses of things you can do to help prevent other people from running into you like if you're going to make a left turn.  Don't turn your wheels as you stop so that the turn will be easier.  Then if someone runs into the back of you, they don't shove you into oncoming traffice.  As a profession driver we took loads of these classes-to protect ourselves, our passengers and even the public and to keep our jobs.  As professionals, we were held to a higher standard than the law.  If someone ran a light and hit the bus, we were held accountable by the company.  We should have looked each way before we crossed into the intersection.  So best advice is just relax and always allow a lot of room around.  Then watch what everyone else is doing and with that extra room, you have a place to go if they do something stupid.  Or just ride the bus during heavy traffic and let someone else handle the stress.  And the last one-take obscure less traveled routes.  They take longer-sometimes-and they are usually much more scenic and relaxing.

Answer 4

A lot of praying

Answer 5

Self control is not easy to achieve.  Perhaps Buddha and Saul of Tarsus could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I find myself, therewith to be content."  Other advice which works for me is: Pray for those who spitefully use you.  It seems most other drivers are concerned only with their own problems and will continue to infringe upon your right to use the highways.  I also salute the drivers of the 18-wheel rigs.  As a group they are the most courteos drivers I know.

Answer 6

I think the first thing you need to do is assess whether you create alot of these situations or are simply reacting to them.

As a commercial driver, I think the biggest things I see people getting mad about (creating the anger situation), are people who don't respect the rights of others to use the same highway in a manner consistent with their abilities.  Some people drive fast  and have no respect for trucks or other autos having the right to reasonably use the same roadway. However, some people also drive slow or poorly and don't have any consideration for those not so challenged. Instead of getting stressed about the situations, try and focus more on the reason behind what other people do. It can completely change the way you drive.

That said, the situation I love best is the guy in the middle of the night that comes flying around me doing 30 above the construction zone speed limit and cuts me off,  so he doesn't get stuck behind me. When he gets to the actual lane restriction, he slows down to under the speed limit, because he's afraid of the barriers, even though he has more than one lanes space.  I always lay on my air horn good and long to wake everyone in the car up, so they can yell at him for cutting me off!!!

Answer 7

Maybe driving just isn't meant for you and you should choose other options.  I find it a no brainer and the arrows, lines that guide me, and all of the other signs that tell you what to do makes me wonder what the real problem is from getting to point B from point A.  I get stressed when I'm behind someone that has a problem with driving!

Answer 8

i agree...

i just deal with it by turning the radio on and listening to something upbeat... (rock personally)

but anyway

i drive from nc  to ohio every week  

my fieance works in ohio for the power company

so every week it is a trip here then back home

people on their cell phones are the worst

I have a saying  "if you are in that big of a hurry you should have left sooner"

Getting towards the cities on the way i try to stay in the middle lane and dont even look in my mirror much cause i know that some jerk off back there is right on my bumper

I had one lady the other day really p**s me off

I was in the fast lane doing close to 10 over the speed limit and she come flying up on me blowing her horn and flashing her lights. People like this dont even need a license!

Just try to stay as calm as you can

I know it is very hard sometimes expecially the way some idiots drive but what else can you do?

Answer 9

I'm only 19, and I get what you mean. The way I deal with it is putting it aside. They're a bunch of brainless dolts who can't drive, and are s******g around, trying to be fast. They're bound to hit something and realize they are bloody dumbasses. When I think(rather, know) of it like that, it makes it easier for me to concentrate on real driving.

You seem to agree that these people are morons, so try to do the same. When you believe these people will receive karmic justice(if you believe in that) in the form of crashing and possibly injuring or killing themselves(harsh, I know), then it doesn't aggravate quite as much. I've had to dish out the karmic retribution, myself, several times, just like vinnie.

=STORY TIME, OPTIONAL READ=

I hear ya, vinnie. One night getting off work(12:30am), I notice a guy speeding and passing everyone behind me without using his signals. He passed me on the right lane and moved into mine. We both needed to get into the left-turn lane, and he noticed me behind him. He decided he'd block me from making the turn. He held his brakes, rolled at 20km/h all the way to the yellow light. His mistake. A yellow means I can still go, if I've passed the line. I used a "race-style" tactic of tailgating within 1 foot from his bumper, through the whole left turn. I angled my car from his car in such a way that I could dodge him at will, no matter the circumstances, but it sure freaked him out. He stopped speeding right after that, and I knew he was just one of "those" drivers.

Answer 10

Boy!...Welcome to the club...And congratulations!...You've made past the most dangerous part of being a driver - those first 5-10 years.

The cause of the problem you describe is simple - not enough roads for too many vehicles of too many different types driven by people of differing levels of competence...A lot of focus is put on the distraction factor of driving - cell phones, eating, etc...But another influence that can be as bad and that  we all face on the road is attitude...If I'm in a bad mood behind the wheel, then my vehicle is in a 'bad mood' because I am the 'computer' that operates the vehicle.

The two best ways to ward off the stress caused by driving are 1) give yourself plenty of time to get where you're going...Try not to let the clock dictate how you operate your vehicle and 2) put more distance between you and the guy in front of you...I do not mean slowing down to the point of being a hazard...Rather, when you have over 150 feet between you and the guy in front, that gives you a little 'comfort' zone...When somebody cuts in front of you, he is either going faster, slower or the same speed as you...Faster - let him go, same speed - back off a mph or two to get your spacing back; slower - match his speed or go around...This takes a bit of concentration, but I try to make a game of it to see how close I can get to keeping the same speed as those around me...Give these suggestions a try and see how it goes.

All the best