Module 4.1..1 to 4.1.4. Driver Readiness

Effects of Driver Condition (Chapter 6) How Emotions & Distractions Affect Driving How you think and act depend a lot on your emotions. When emotions affect your thoughts and actions, they can also affect your decision-making skills and ability to assess risks. Strong emotions block your ability to judge and reason.

H0w Emotions Affect Driving An emotion is a strong feeling. Anger, fear, and joy are examples of emotions. Emotions can lead you to assume more or less risk than normal. You can reduce the negative effects of emotions and better manage risks by using courteous driving strategies. When you do this, you empower yourself because courtesy can influence others’ emotions.

Mental Effects of Emotions Strong emotions interfere with your ability to think, reason, make wise decisions, and respond appropriately to situations. They can increase your chances of making a mistake. Emotions can also affect the way you make judgments and decisions in a driving situation.

Mental Effects of Emotions In some instances, strong emotions may cause you to focus on only one event. You could miss other important events in a driving situation. For example, if a driver suddenly moves into your lane without warning and you focus only on the driver’s actions, you might overreact and cause a conflict with the driver behind you which might upset that driver.

Physical Effects of Emotions When you experience strong emotions, your heartbeat speeds up, your breathing quickens, your digestion slows, and your muscles tighten. If you are angry, your mind and body prepare to fight. If you are afraid, your focus may become flight.

Physical Effects of Emotions The more tasks there are in a driving situation, the more complex and stressful the situation. During rush hour, drivers often display more discourteous driving behaviors as a result of traffic congestion. Heavy traffic can cause stress and fatigue in drivers.

Emotions and Distractions While Driving

Anger While Driving You assume that others will drive and act in a safe, responsible manner. You might be tempted to react angrily when you must change your expectations. In normal driving situations, other drivers might interfere with your intended speed or path of travel. They might slow or change lanes improperly. They might not yield, may fail to signal, or may not move quickly enough when a traffic light changes. As a result, you might become angry.

Anger and Driving Anger seems to occur and be displayed more often than any other emotion. Anger is one of the hardest emotions to control. Anger can cause aggression or road rage Aggressive Driving is driving without regard for other’s safety. Road Rage is driving with the intent to harm others.

What would you say? You are riding with a friend in the center lane of a three lane highway. A driver behind you starts honking the horn, flashing the high beam lights, and tailgating. How would you react to the situation? What are two things you could say to help your friend manage the situation and drive safely? What can you do when you become angry while driving or encounter other drivers who are angry?

What is aggressive driving? Write “Tips to Handle Anger While Driving” in your spiral and make a list of the following suggestions.

Allow plenty of time for the trip Listen to soothing music What can you do when you become angry while driving or encounter other drivers who are angry? Think positively Leave punishment to the police; your acts may only aggravate the situation. Model good behavior Allow plenty of time for the trip Listen to soothing music Improve the comfort in your vehicle Understand that you can't control the traffic, only your reaction to it

What can you do to avoid road rage? Write “Tips to Avoid Road Rage” in your spiral and list the following suggestions.

What can you do to avoid road rage? Don't take your eyes off the road. Avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver Stay cool -- don't react to provocation Keep away from drivers behaving erratically Assume other drivers' mistakes are not personal Be polite and courteous, even if the other driver isn't Avoid all conflict if possible. If another driver challenges you, take a deep breath and get out of the way.

Basic Traffic Courtesy If you keep basic traffic courtesy in mind when driving, you are less likely to become angry or anger another driver. In your spiral, write “Basic Traffic Courtesy” and make a list of the following suggestions.

Keep Basic Traffic Courtesy in Mind Do not make obscene gestures Use Your Horn Sparingly (it's ILLEGAL to HANG on the horn anyway!) Don't block passing (fast) lane Don't switch lanes without signaling Avoid blocking the right-hand turn lane Do not take more than one parking space If you are not disabled, don't park in a disabled space.

Keep Basic Traffic Courtesy in Mind Additional Tips Do not allow your door to hit the car parked next to you Do not tailgate If you travel slowly, pull over and allow traffic to pass (It's the LAW) Avoid unnecessary use of high beam headlights Don't let the cell phone distract you Don't stop in the road to talk with a pedestrian or other driver Don't inflict loud music on neighboring cars

What are the dangers of aggressive driving?

What are some of the characteristics of an aggressive driver?

What are some common mistakes that aggressive drivers make?

How can you avoid driving aggressively?

How can you safely respond to an aggressive driver?

Emotions and Distractions While Driving

Sorrow & Depression Sorrow, depression and anxiety are other emotions that can adversely affect driving. These emotions can also slow body processes and reduce mental alertness.

Emotions and Distractions While Driving

Excitement & Happiness Excitement and happiness can prevent you from fully concentrating on your driving task. A happy, excited driver can be just as impaired as an angry driver. After an emotionally intense event, try to deal with your emotions before you get behind the wheel. If not dealt with, your emotions could impair your driving ability.

How Emotions Affect Driving

Anxiety Anxiety differs from anger. You might be anxious when driving in an unfamiliar or difficult situation. You might have trouble identifying hazards when you are confused. You might even feel panic-stricken. As a responsible driver, work to recognize difficult situations and try your best to cope. It may mean delaying driving, but your risks will be reduced.

Fatigue Don't Drive Tired Write “Tips to Cope with Fatigue” in your spiral and list the following suggestions.

Fatigue Keep your eyes moving. Be active- listen to the radio, sing or talk with your passengers. Stop in a safe, well-lighted place if you feel you can’t drive safely anymore. Lock the vehicle and take a nap.

Fatigue Rest is the only safe remedy for fatigue. If you are tired after work or school, take a break for a few minutes before you drive. Stop every two hours. Walk, stretch, get a beverage or snack.

Fatigue Mental or physical work, emotional stress, or loss of sleep can cause fatigue. You may not think of fatigue as being a disability, but fatigue lessens your fitness to perform tasks, including driving. It dulls your senses and slows both mental and physical processes. If you are fatigued, you will need more time to use the IPDE Process.

Drowsiness Fatigue can also cause drowsiness. Drowsy driving is estimated to cause at least 100,000 collisions each year. If you find that you can’t stop yawning, or your eyes keep closing, or you can’t focus or concentrate on the driving task, you’re probably drowsy and shouldn’t be driving. *Keep this in mind when you are scheduling your drive times as well as when you begin driving. If you know you have a long day planned, don’t schedule a 2 hour drive time at night.

How Emotions Affect Driving Write “How can passengers help the driver maintain control while driving?” in your spiral and list the following suggestions.

Passengers and Emotions Here are actions you, as a passenger, can take to assist a driver: Avoid saying or doing anything that might distract or upset the driver. Refrain from heated discussions; talk about positive events. Discourage the driver from taking reckless actions. Encourage the driver to let someone else drive, or refuse to ride in the same vehicle if they are reckless. Compliment the driver for doing a good job of driving in a difficult situation.

How Emotions Affect Driving

Emotions and the IPDE Process 5. The successful use of the IPDE Process requires total concentration on driving. 6. In a high-stress situation, you need even more time to use the IPDE Process to keep from making wrong or late decisions because your emotional condition can drastically affect your driving ability. Write “Techniques for Coping with Emotions While Driving” in your spiral and list the following suggestions.

Write “Techniques for Coping with Emotions While Driving” in your spiral and list the following: Use the IPDE Process to drive in an organizational manner. Learn and use correct driving procedures until they become habits. Anticipate emotion-producing situations and adjust your expectations. If you encounter an aggressive driver, do not challenge the driver. Avoid eye contact, ignore gestures or verbal comments, and remain calm.

Techniques for Coping with Emotions While Driving Try to adjust your route to avoid irritating traffic situations. If you are tired, make a special effort to manage your emotions. A tired person can become upset more easily. Analyze your mistakes. Learn from them so that you are less likely to repeat them. Keep courtesy as one of your personal rules of the road.

Goal of Emotional Control Learning about emotions and how to manage them is something most individuals will work at all their lives. Maintaining an attitude of “I will always work to manage my emotions while driving” is a big step toward actually mastering your emotions. If you manage your emotions and maintain your driving ability, those skills will help keep the risks of driving, as well as your stress level, low.