MARCH 2019 | 35
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
DON’T BECOME
A VICTIM OF
ROAD RAGE
We have all come across
road rage at some point in our
driving lives. When it happens, it
can leave you feeling intimidated
and scared. But with a bit of plan-
ning you can prevent the situation
altogether as no one sets off on a
journey intending to have an ar-
gument with another driver, often
the road rage is the culmination of
a bad day.
Richard Gladman, head of driv-
ing and riding standards, provides
a few top tips about how to avoid
being a victim of road rage, and
what to do if it escalates.
Try to take
‘ yourself
away from
the problem – let
the other driver go
on ahead. Even if
you feel wronged,
letting the other
party go will make
no difference to the
rest of your day
’
• If there’s conflict between two
parties, there’s a likely chance
you’ve both played a part.
This doesn’t mean you should
react. Try to take yourself
away from the problem – let
the other driver go on ahead.
Even if you feel wronged,
letting the other party go will
make no difference to the rest
of your day
• Is someone being confron-
tational or aggressive? If so,
don’t make eye contact and
don’t react visibly. Try not to
think about them so that the
incident doesn’t affect you
afterwards
• If the other party is still being
aggressive to you and you are
in fear of your own safety, call
the police
• If the other party approaches
you in your car, can you drive
away safely? If you can, con-
sider doing so. But don’t rush
off and drive like the getaway
driver in a film, or if you think
the other driver is going to
chase you. If they are chas-
ing you stop in a busy public
place and call help
• Do you have a passengers
who can film any behaviour
on a mobile phone? This will
help in terms of evidence.
Remember to include the reg-
istration number of the other
vehicle involved
• Don’t open your door, don’t
open your windows fully and
don’t start or get provoked
into an argument, try to stay
calm
• If you were at fault, admit
it and apologise. It may be
enough to diffuse the situation
quickly. And do not do any-
thing that can be interpreted
as retaliation. Even if you wer-
en’t at fault, is the argument
really worth it?
Hopefully by now the matter
is over and you are driving away.
Do acknowledge that this incident
will have affected your behaviour.
If you feel upset or emotional pull
over and get some fresh air or
walk around if you need to before
resuming your journey.
Find some distraction like listen-
ing to the radio - move your mind
deliberately onto something else –
deliberately driving well would be
a good example – but don’t dwell
on the incident.
www.iamroadsmart.com
FORD TAKES
TO THE ROAD
TO RAISE
AWARENESS OF
MENTAL HEALTH
Ford is adding ten liveried
trailers to its UK transport opera-
tions to mark this years’ Time to
Talk Day. The specially-designed
trailers - sharing the message
“Don’t let mental health be the
elephant in the room” - travel
thousands of miles a year, and will
act as “mobile billboards” to raise
awareness of the Time to Change
campaign to end mental health
discrimination.
Around one in four people in
the UK experiences mental health
problems with young men, in
particular being identified as a
vulnerable demographic. Only a
third of men (34 per cent) would
talk openly about their feelings,
while just under one third (31 per
cent) said that they would be em-
barrassed about seeking help for a
mental health problem.
Last year Ford partnered with
*Time to Change, producing a na-
tional awareness film promoting the
front seat of a vehicle as a safe space
to talk after research, conducted by
Ford, found that over two-thirds (67
per cent) of people said they were
more comfortable talking about
issues when in a vehicle.
www.ford.co.uk
www.time-to-change.org.uk