When you are tired, irritable and weighed down by an extra low tolerance level for bull$h!+, going to and from work everyday can be just flat out miserable. But between entertainment in the car and not driving like a jerk bag, there are a number of things you can do to keep you and your fellow motorists sane and safe while driving on congested roads.
1. Play music you’re in the mood for.
If you’re not in the mood for what’s on the radio, put in a CD or listen to your iPod or phone. Really jam it out. Pick something to you can sing to. And sing it REALLY LOUD. Actually. If you can manage it, scream the words. Push your singing capabilities to the max. Practice for Friday night karaoke. Whatever gets you going. It’s a good outlet for frustration, especially when your alternative is to scream profanities at the 10,000 people who want to merge into your lane…which solves nothing. Why scream “$%$* You @$$*&%#” when you can own rush hour with lyrics from classic rock power ballads?
2. Listen to a Podcast.
Preferably a funny one. It’s the end of the day (or the beginning) so unless listening to the news or NPR helps you unwind (or pumps you up), avoid anything that makes your brain want to explode. So give yourself a well needed break and time to chase the grumpies away with something that’ll make you laugh. Who is your favorite stand-up comedian? Amy Schumer or Jim Gaffigan? If your ideal source of entertainment is listening to radio sitcom Cabin Pressure, go on iTunes and purchase some morning and evening sanity.
3. Pop in that book audio CD/cassette you borrowed from the library.
My first exposure ever to Harry Potter was in a seven hour car ride to NJ, listening an audio cassette of the third book. When you’re a wee little one with a barely existing attention span, listening to someone read a good book to you during a boring car ride does wonders for your sanity. And since we never grow out of boring car rides and the excruciating pain that is rush hour traffic…whip our your library card and get yourself something to make the time fly by.
Now for a little driving etiquette: people are nicer to you during rush hour if you show courtesy and don’t do something to make them mad. When you don’t have people honking and cursing at you or other people, you going to have a saner, safer, more enjoyable commute.
4. Use a turn signal.
This should go without saying, but yet 50% of the people that merge into your lane won’t use one. If you are one of those people, know this: you can send all the mental vibes you want but no one has telepathy. Do you want to cause an accident? It’s stressful and maddening to have a bunch of people cut you off without warning.
5. Keep your road rage in check.
We all need an outlet. But screaming and getting yourself worked up doesn’t improve your mood. If you need to let out a string of profanities (to yourself), go for it. But then get over it and move on. Don’t let another person’s driving madness ruin your day. And if you’re riding the road rage struggle bus, see numbers 1-3 for coping techniques.
6. Merge at the merging point.
You know that road block sign a mile down the road? Wait until you get there before merging. It’s one thing if there’s a decent sized opening in the line of cars you want to join that you can quickly squeeze into, but if you stop in the middle of the road 5,000 feet ahead of time, waiting for someone to let you in, you’re going to hold up the traffic in your lane and back up traffic miles down the road in the opposite direction. All just so you can take 10 minutes to get into a lane “early.” But really, it’s easier to take turns if you go down to the merging point. And it’s faster. Everyone will get home sooner if you do this.
7. Don’t ride bumper to bumper to keep out people who have to merge.
Unless they’re that road bully who impatiently weaves in and out of traffic at 100 miles an hour, or rides someone’s tail to get them to move out of the way, there’s no need for this. It’s rude and pushy. So let other people in. I can’t tell you how many times I see people switch a lane, only to ride bumper to bumper with the car in front of them so no one else can.
8. Don’t be a road bully.
Road bullies cause accidents and get tickets.