Each day, people experience many different emotions, from happiness or sadness to anger or disgust, joy or impatience. They may be good at controlling their emotions or tend to show every feeling. However, people generally learn how to control their emotions to fit in with the expectations that society places on them. The same kind of control is necessary for drivers.

On the road, dealing well with emotions is especially important, as failing to do that can result in serious accidents and injuries. Using the right techniques can help drivers control their emotions to keep themselves and others safer on the road. Otherwise, their emotions could easily take their attention from the task of driving and endanger everyone nearby.

Emotions affect every aspect of life, but especially tasks like driving that require concentration. When people are angry, sad or frightened, or even when they are happy, they tend to pay less attention to the road than they otherwise might, making them more vulnerable to accidents.

Physiological and Psychological Effects of Emotions

According to the Automotive Fleet website, a study published by the National Academy of Science found that drivers who display strong emotions such as anger or agitation are almost ten times as likely as others to be in an accident. These emotions take their attention off the road and make it more difficult for them to concentrate on the task at hand.

Besides taking drivers’ attention from the road, strong emotions also have physiological effects that can negatively affect driving. The same National Academy of Science study found that negative emotions including anger or sadness can reduce a person’s field of vision, making it more difficult for them to use their peripheral vision to see possible hazards at the side of the road.

When this happens, drivers are more vulnerable to a collision with a vehicle coming from an intersecting road and can be surprised by a pedestrian or animal crossing the road. Accidents are more likely to occur under these types of circumstances. As the strength of the emotions increases, these problems are likely to increase, making the chances of a serious accident greater as the emotion takes a firmer grip on the driver.

Some people find it easier than others to control or avoid any emotions that can affect their ability to drive. However, all drivers need to have the skills to be able to control emotions since they never know when they may encounter a situation that requires them to remain calm. Being prepared for possible contingencies is an essential part of being a safe and responsible driver.

Techniques for Controlling Emotions

Certain techniques are useful for drivers working to control the effects of emotions on their driving style and their awareness of the possible hazards around them. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s online Driver’s Handbook gives some guidelines for dealing with some of the most common emotions on the road, anger and frustration that can lead to road rage. These emotions can lead drivers to cut off other road users or to tailgate, speed or fail to yield the right-of-way to other drivers. This in turn can cause other road users to become angry and increase the chances of an accident.

In a situation like this, as the Driver’s Handbook notes, some simple techniques can help. Opening the window to get some fresh air if possible and taking the time to breathe deeply and slowly can slow the heartrate and help with relaxation, allowing the drivers to return their focus to the road. If possible, drivers should pull to the side of the road to take these steps. If not, it is still possible to do a modified version of these exercises, even while driving.

Another technique is to listen to relaxing music. The website of the University of Nevada, Reno notes that music is known to have an effect on levels of stress that people feel. Fast music can make people more alert and able to concentrate, while upbeat music improves people’s outlook on life. A slower tempo, in contrast, can quiet the mind and relax the muscles. For drivers, having the right type of music ready to play can be helpful in case a stressful situation occurs.

Further techniques can be useful for controlling stress behind the wheel of a vehicle, according to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Possibly the most important tactic is to make a conscious decision to avoid thinking about problems while on the road. Everyone has a variety of pressures in life, whether these are upcoming assignments and exams in school, family problems or issues at work. It can be easy to become involved on thinking about these issues, but it is important to avoid having them impede safe driving.

A second technique is to take breaks whenever necessary, especially on long trips. Driving can be tiring, and strong emotions only add to the strain that drivers feel. Taking a break at least every two or three hours can be very helpful on long trips. However, breaks can also be helpful on shorter trips. If heavy traffic is stressful, for example, drivers can pull to the side of the road or into a parking lot to wait for a few minutes for their nerves to calm down. However, drivers should ensure that it is safe to pull over before they attempt to do that, in case they cause an accident.

Avoid Conflict and Unnecessary Honking

Avoiding conflicts with other drivers is also important. Drivers should not attempt to compete with others on the road, whether this involves attempting to get ahead of them at the beginning of a construction zone or starting up after a red light, or any other situation. Drivers should also not try to educate each other on the road or retaliate for bad behaviour. Trying not to take other drivers’ actions personally, whether these are genuine mistakes or aggressive acts, can help drivers to stay calm and to understand the effects that their own mistakes may have on others.   

Unless it is necessary, drivers should avoid honking the horn at other road users. Often, drivers can interpret a honking horn as aggression and respond with their own angry behaviour. In addition, a honking horn can startle cyclists or other road users into making potentially dangerous mistakes that they would likely not make otherwise. If the situation calls for a driver to honk at another road user, usually a light tap on the horn is enough to get a response.     

Limiting the use of the horn is useful for avoiding conflict with other road users, but it is also a good technique for calming the driver. Aggressive behaviours tend to feed on each other, but calmness and courtesy can encourage others to behave in similar ways. Unexpected situations tend to increase aggressive behaviours, but advance planning helps. Even on a familiar route, drivers can plan alternatives in case of traffic jams or other situations that might cause them to become lost and agitated.

Courtesy

Courtesy is the most important technique for controlling emotions. When drivers remember to be courteous, they are more likely to respond calmly and to yield the right-of-way to other drivers where appropriate. Normally, watching for other drivers’ signals is the best way of knowing their intentions, although aggression or lack of experience can sometimes lead drivers to make unexpected moves.

Being courteous around other road users is especially important, as these people tend to be especially vulnerable. Cyclists need space to move around potholes or debris on the road, and they can easily lose their balance and fall if they ride over bumps or other rough parts of the road. Sometimes, it may take them longer to get across intersections than they anticipate, but drivers should not try to rush them along by honking the horn or using any other potentially aggressive tactics.

All drivers make mistakes at times. However, acknowledging the fact and indicating an apology can help improve the situation. Waving or making eye contact can help, although drivers should be careful not to meet the eyes of an aggressive driver in case this triggers retaliation. In that case, remaining calm and staying on well-travelled routes can help give the other driver time to calm down again.

In her August 2014 Globe and Mail article on dealing with driving stress, Lisa Monforton lists several tips for staying calm on the road and helping others to do the same. Leaving enough time for getting from one place to another is important for keeping drivers calm. In addition, drivers should avoid making any sudden moves, as these can take other by surprise and potentially cause an accident. The tension of avoiding other road users can also affect drivers themselves. Taking enough time to signal or brake properly will help everyone on the road. When drivers know how to control their emotions, whether they are happy, sad or anything in between, it can make the road safer for everyone. The techniques for doing this might differ from one driver to another, but everyone can learn the best methods for keeping emotions from hindering their ability to follow the rules of the road. Drivers who can control their emotions help to keep everyone safe.