How to Prevent road rage

The road can sometimes resemble a battle field. Tailgaters, horn-honkers, and jerks who cut you off are enough to drive any driver batty. Here's how to keep your cool behind the wheel and stay calm during moments in which you'd like to explode.

You Will Need:

• Sleep

• Plenty of time to reach your destination

• Patience

• Relaxing music (optional)

• Photos of your loved ones (optional)

Step 1: Get sleep

Get plenty of shut-eye. Lack of sleep can make you cranky and prone to feelings of annoyance and anger. Get the recommended eight hours before your morning commute.

Step 2: Give yourself time to get there

Allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. If you're running late, it's easy to get stressed and lose your temper on the road. Allotting 10 extra minutes for your trip will allow you to handle unexpected delays calmly.

Step 3: Take breaks on long trips

Take regular breaks when driving long distances to stretch your legs and grab some food. Spending hour after hour in a stuffy car can leave you irritable and frustrated.

Step 4: Keep your cool

If someone changes lanes without looking, tailgates you, or cuts you off, count to 10 and take a few deep breaths. Losing your temper won't make the other person a better driver, so take the high road and let it go.

Step 5: Don't engage

An angry driver is looking for a fight, so simply refuse to join in. And don't ever pull off to side of the road to "settle" things.

Step 6: Consult a doctor

If you feel like you're unable to control your rage while driving, consult a physician. Doctors have found that road rage may be a symptom of Intermittent Explosive Disorder, which may affect as many as 16 million Americans.

Trivia: A study found that drivers with a lot of bumper stickers and decals on their cars are more likely to exhibit road rage.