Road Rage Incidents On The Rise During The Holidays, Expert Tips On Staying Safe

AAA Oklahoma says road rage incidents are on the rise and typically get worse during the holiday season.

Some of the best advice experts can give is to just let it roll off your back.

Don’t engage with anyone on the road because you never know who is behind those doors.

Robert Cole has taught driver’s education at Oklahoma Driving School for more than three decades.

He says when someone gets mad at you on the road, it’s best to remove yourself from the situation.

"You never know what might have sparked the incident,” said Cole. “It may not have been you, maybe it's someone further back up the road. You never know what people are thinking."

AAA Oklahoma says during the holidays, road rage happens more because more people are out shopping, traveling, and dealing with holiday stress.

This means drivers need to be extra courteous.

"We are in our vehicles; we may feel more anonymous, but vehicles are still very dangerous tools in situations like road rage,” said Rylie Fletcher, a spokeswoman for AAA Oklahoma. “So if you can, pull over, give them the space they need to get away from you. And if you feel that it's necessary, call the authorities."

AAA Oklahoma says if you’re in a situation where you are too emotional to be on the road, it’s best to not risk it.

"Make sure that you are driving in a calm state,” said Fletcher. “Just like you shouldn't drive impaired or drowsy, you also shouldn't drive angry."

If someone is trying to run you off the road, Cole says to do your best to pull over, avoid eye contact, and not challenge them.

"Be understanding,” said Cole. “You can't control what they're going to do. So you just have to accept it and do the best you can to share the road with them."

Experts say it’s also never a good idea to make yourself a target.

That means don’t make any gestures towards anyone or say anything to them because you never know if they have a weapon.

Other advice AAA Oklahoma gives is to only honk your horn in an emergency. If you make a mistake, wave at the other driver, and don’t try to correct other drivers or teach them the “correct” way to drive.