Road rage is a familiar feeling when commuting, but it’s possible to overcome it. In this post by AMSOIL: National Synthetics in Acworth, GA, we put together some ways to help you feel more relaxed while driving.

An excellent way to avoid delays and road rage while driving is to keep your car in the best shape possible. The experts at National Synthetics can help you pick the best products for y our vehicle by calling them at (678) 799-9062. If you’re ready to place an order, visit their online shop anytime!

Before Your Leave

Leave With Time to Spare

Planning your trip and leaving with enough time is one of the main strategies to avoid road rage. A lot of the time, road rage is caused by feeling rushed to get to our destination, which might be a contributing factor in people driving aggressively. By planning your trip and leaving enough time to drive at the speed limit, you can start feeling more relaxed and create a calm environment to avoid stress while driving. Your driving plan should account for possible delays on the road as they’re common and can happen at any time. Also, check your maps app before driving to check for any closed streets, crashes, or roadwork that could delay your trip and avoid it by taking a different route.

Take a Beat to Relax

Before leaving, it’s also essential to take a moment to relax. This can happen before you step out of the door or when you’re sitting in your car—being relaxed while driving can be the difference between taking someone cutting you off personally or letting it slide and avoiding an escalation. Try taking a seat and identifying the parts of your body that feel tense. Most people store tension in their hands, arms and jaw. Take a few deep breaths and relax these parts of your body or any others that feel tense. If you feel them tense up again while driving, try taking a few deep breaths again. It might take a few tries and a few deep breaths, but it’s possible to relax with a bit of practice while driving. Relaxation tip: There’s a reason why places like spas have pleasant smells around. Try keeping in your car lavender or chamomile essential oils to help you get into a relaxed mood before your drive.

Start feeling at ease in your car by knowing it will never let you down with regular maintenance. If you’re looking for excellent products for its upkeep, visit AMSOIL’s online store, where you can find products like Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil. If you’re unsure what products you need, give National Synthetics a call today at (678) 799-9062, and one of their oil pros will help you out.

While on the Road

Practice Polite Driving

Many aspects of driving can be stressful and cause people to be in a bad mood. Things like heat, rushing, and lousy driving can all trigger road rage. An excellent way to avoid it is to be intentionally polite while driving. Stress can quickly escalate, but counteracting it with politeness can diffuse a situation quite effectively. Here are some ideas on how to be polite while driving:

• Respect queues in traffic.
• Pick your lane early.
• Allow other drivers to merge into your lane.
• Thank others on the road.

These simple suggestions can help make the road much more enjoyable for everyone and avoid unnecessary escalations.

Steer Away from Bad Drivers

Another common trigger for road rage is bad drivers. Understandably, you might find it annoying that other drivers don’t respect the road rules while driving. But it’s essential to keep in mind that bad driving could be caused by human error or even a small distraction. The best way to handle these drivers is by steering away from them and not engaging to avoid escalating the problem.

Don’t Take Aggressive Driving Personally

Lastly, if bad driving turns into an aggressive situation, it’s important to remain calm and do your best to deescalate it. Sometimes the best way is by driving away, but if the other driver is insistent, or if you feel unsafe for any reason, it’s best to find help as soon as possible, be it by calling 911, driving to a police station, or looking for a police car on the road.

Find the best products for your engine at  National Synthetics. To place an order, visit AMSOIL’s online shop or call them at (678) 799-9062 for more information on their entire line of products, including which would be the best ones for your vehicle.