roadwise.Open study app

District of Columbia driving lesson · Safe Driving Fundamentals

Road rage & your emotions

A 3-minute lesson from the District of Columbia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Safe Driving Fundamentals
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
26, 27

Roads now routinely handle double the cars of 20 years ago. Rush hour, work zones and crashes add to drivers' frustration. How you manage your own mood matters as much as how you react to others.

The biggest road-rage culprits:

  • Tailgating
  • Unsafe lane changing
  • Speeding
  • Running red lights and stop signs
Handbook p. 27 ↗

Simple rules to reduce road rage (part 1):

  • Always allow extra travel time
  • Do not stay behind the wheel for more than three hours at a time
  • Keep enough distance from the vehicle ahead to stop in time
  • Always signal when turning or changing lanes
  • Always come to a full stop at red lights and stop signs; do not run yellow lights
Handbook p. 27 ↗

Simple rules to reduce road rage (part 2):

  • Let other drivers merge into traffic in an orderly fashion
  • Do not block the passing lane
  • Obey posted speed limits
  • Concentrate on driving, not your phone, stereo or passengers
  • Use your horn only in emergencies
  • Never make faces or rude, obscene gestures; avoid eye contact
  • Extend common courtesy to other drivers at all times
Handbook p. 27 ↗
3 hours

Longest you should stay behind the wheel at a time

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Know the rule

If you are upset or angry, take time to calm down before driving, or let someone else drive. You'd be better off not driving at all when emotionally upset; expressing emotions while driving is dangerous.

Handbook p. 26 ↗

Put it into practice

You just had an argument and you're furious. The handbook's advice: don't drive yet. Take time to calm down or let someone else drive, and don't vent your anger behind the wheel.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What should you do if you are upset or angry before driving?
  1. Drive faster to release stress
  2. Open all windows and drive normally
  3. Skip the trip only if it's a long distance
  4. Calm down first, or let someone else drive

Answer: Calm down first, or let someone else drive

Emotionally upset drivers should calm down first or let someone else drive; expressing emotion while driving is dangerous.

Handbook p. 26 ↗
To reduce road rage, the handbook says not to remain behind the wheel for more than how long at a time?
  1. One hour
  2. Two hours
  3. Three hours
  4. Five hours

Answer: Three hours

One of the simple rules to reduce road rage is not to remain behind the wheel for more than three hours at a time.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
Which of these is one of the handbook's simple rules to reduce road rage?
  1. Flash your lights at slow drivers
  2. Let other drivers merge in an orderly way
  3. Stay in the passing lane to keep pace
  4. Close gaps so others can't cut in

Answer: Let other drivers merge in an orderly way

The rules to reduce road rage include letting other drivers merge into traffic in an orderly fashion and not blocking the passing lane.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
The handbook's rules for reducing road rage include not running yellow lights.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Always come to a full stop at red lights and stop signs, and do not run yellow lights.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Safe Driving Fundamentals

All District of Columbia lessons