applying your smart driving skills Strategies: stopping unsafe driving situations Aggression on the road You in the driver’s seat Here are some ideas that could help you handle unsafe  drivers:  It’s often difficult to know what to do when you’re faced with  drivers who are aggressive. Their lack of courtesy and bad  driving habits can lead to crashes. Extreme aggression, or road  rage, is not common, but mild aggression can escalate if you  are not careful. How should you respond? It’s late at night and you’re driving in an unfamiliar  neighbourhood. A vehicle comes speeding up behind  you. The driver starts flicking the headlights back and forth  from high to low beam.  What should you do?  • Try using humour — it works sometimes.  • Use “I” statements to get across how you feel. For example, you might say:  I’m feeling pretty nervous  right now. Could you please slow down for me? • Offer to take the wheel. Tell your friend that you’d really  like a turn driving.  • If there are other passengers, try to get their help. Ask:  How are you guys feeling right now?  Chances are  they are probably feeling the same way.  • Be firm. Say something like:  Hey! Slow down before  you get us killed. • If all else fails, ask to be let out of the car.  110