RoadPeace's Suggestions for Getting Through the Worst of Times -- Traffic Jams, The Other Guy's Rudeness, Bad Moods, and the Like

Allow PLENTY of Time to Get Where You're Going. A lot of frayed tempers are caused by people feeling pressured to get somewhere quickly because they're late...for work, for a function, getting home. Try leaving 15 minutes to a full half-hour earlier than you usually do, and notice what a difference it makes in your attitude. It's magic. You don't resent slow-downs and you don't feel that tightness in your body.

Try to Make Your Driving Environment Pleasant. Make sure your seat is comfortable and at the right level; use the visor to keep the sun out of your eyes; open the window [or turn on the air] if you're too hot. NOBODY can be relaxed and happy [and therefore RoadPeaceful] if they're in the blinding sun, suffocating in the heat, or straining to see over the dashboard. Also make sure your car is in good working order and you have wiper-washer fluid, good windshield wipers, clean windows and the like. Go really crazy and put a favorite potpourri in the [presumably clean and empty] ashtray, invest in a comfortable driving cushion...whatever you need to personalize your driving experience and make it as pleasant as possible.

Pump Down the Volume. Radios, tapes and compact CD players can be charming highway companions, but loud music or even a talk show with a lot of arguing can cause tension. When the going gets tough, try switching to soft music -- light jazz or classical. Or turn your radio off, roll down your window, and see if you can catch some birdsong.

Breathe. Some of us are so anxious to get where we're going we practically hold our breaths until we get there.

Enjoy the scenery -- in moderation. Obviously you can't gaze off while you're driving, but if you're stopped in a traffic jam or at a light, try looking around you. At an intersection you've crossed a million times, you may suddenly notice a little patch of sweet alyssum growing in the sidewalk cracks. Or one of those pretty red-winged blackbirds sitting in an oleander bush in the median strip.

"Kill them with kindness." If you're absolutely at the end of your rope, try doing a complete reversal instead and seeing just how polite you can be. It's far more empowering than crawling up the trunk of the person ahead of you to try to make some point about how fast you need to get where you're going.

Finally....You don't have to be perfect. Even the most saintly among us has a bad day. If you slip back into old wild-driver habits, just don't stay stuck there. Renew your commitment to be RoadPeaceful and get back on the kindness track when you've calmed down.

REMEMBER: AGGRESSIVE, ANGRY DRIVING BECOMES A BAD HABIT...BUT WE CAN CHOOSE TO CHANGE!

RoadPeace content copyright © 1997 Ann Clark. Page design copyright © 1997 Code 1 Productions.