Now that we are well into the holiday season, the amount of stress on people, which includes the weight of the ongoing pandemic, could lead to trouble behind the wheel.

According to a recent AAA survey, nearly 80% of drivers admitted to driving aggressively within the last month. The most common among those traits was speeding, with nearly half of the respondents saying they exceeded the speed limit on a crowded freeway by more than 15 mph. Other actions included tailgating, and not the kind done in a parking lot before a game, making inappropriate gestures or honking at other drivers, running a red light and quickly switching lanes or driving very close behind another car.

Even if those kinds of actions don’t result in you getting hurt, it may cause great harm to someone else. 

In order for drivers to stay cool when they are on the road — and many will be — the AAA is offering a number of tips to help rage off the pavement: 

• Follow posted speed limits.

• Maintain an adequate following distance.

• Use turn signals.

• Allow others to merge.

• Use your high beams responsibly.

• Be considerate in parking lots. Park in one spot, not across multiple spaces. Be careful not to hit cars next to you with your door.

If you think you are involved in a road rage incident from another driver, the AAA recommends the following:

• Avoid eye contact

• If you are confronted, stay as calm and courteous as possible

• Don’t respond to aggression with aggression

• If you feel threatened, call 911.

• If you feel at risk, drive to a public place such as a police station, hospital or fire station

• When you park, allow room so you can pull out safely if someone approaches you aggressively

• Use your horn to attract attention but remain in your locked vehicle

Stay alert and stay alive — and stay calm and courteous — when you’re out on the road.