Aggressive drivers

[BruhWhy]

I will preface this thread by saying I am an anxious mess in general.

I passed my test in August. Despite being an anxious person I feel like a very safe and competent driver and am calm and composed behind the wheel.

Since passing my test and being out driving alone I can't get over how AGGRESSIVE people are. Mainly men, tbh, but women too. Swearing, shouting, gesticulating, beeping their horn if you dare to do absolutely anything that means they have to wait more than 3 seconds while you complete a manoeuvre or something. Everyone I speak to say this is just how it is. The problem is I take it really personally 😬

I popped to Asda earlier. I don't tend to reverse park into bays, even though I'm confident in doing it, because people behind get impatient and drive right up your arse even if you're indicating to reverse. Today behind me was clear though so I decided to, halfway through reversing a woman drove up to me quickly and was sat there for literally 5 seconds before starting to gesture wildly and swearing at me from inside her car. I reversed in all the way, quite quickly, and she drove past giving me daggers.

Walked round Asda afterwards feeling so anxious. There's absolutely no way she'd have done any of that had she been standing next to me in the milk aisle. Why do people behave this way in their cars? And how can I stop it bothering me so much?!

OP I think most people get road rage because everyone is in a rush and always trying to get to their next destination as a pose to trying to be present in the moment. I do get rage myself but that is when people nearly crash into me not from waiting for someone to reverse now that is another level of rage 🤣Personally I find meditation, breathing and listening to audiobooks about peace is helping me aid myself in becoming less annoyed on the road and in general (we have extremely annoying neighbour and thin walls which is enough so send you mad 🙃). Some people are really horrible, bitter and need to calm the hell down! Just smile they say it relaxes the body a lot and can improve your mood, as well as piss the person off who can't wait a minute for you to reverse😝

It's Not You, It's Them.

Remember that, and try to ignore their tantrums.

Everyone exists as the centre of their own universe now and take it personally if they have to wait for a few seconds for anything. The roads are shared by everyone and space has to be negotiated calmly and with consideration to others. If the impatient drivers can't handle that, then they need to address that as their issue, not other people's. Just ignore them and drive as you were taught.

I have been driving for over 20 years now. Since passing, I feel nowadays the standard of driving has got worse. Plus, I encounter aggressive drivers on my local roads a few times a week, if not daily. It feels like people think they're entitled to drive in whatever manner suits them best. I have Anxiety too, but am am a competent and safe driver. Even today, I had a male driver gesticulating at me, and beeping his horn. He then started driving up close behind me on purpose, because I wasn't going quickly enough - to him alone. I was going 20, on a 20mph road.

Just know the issue is with them, and them alone. Take no notice of them, and just drive safely. Just keep thinking I should get dash cams, and report anyone being especially dangerous. I have no time for rude, ignorant, and impatient drivers.

There's a really low-level of driving standards and manners on the road for sure.