Road rage is sadly nothing new, but a recent incident involving the death of a U.S. Marine in Texas has once again shown how quickly emotions can turn deadly.
While authorities continue to sort out the details of this incident, the larger story is one we all know too well: a small mistake behind the wheel turning into a confrontation that goes too far. Driving seems to bring out a unique, often irrational intensity in people. Maybe it’s the stress of the day, maybe it’s fear disguised as anger, or maybe it’s the sense that every other driver is somehow a threat—especially when we’ve all seen how quickly accidents can change lives.
Why This One Thought Matters In Keep Your Road Rage In Check
I’ve felt that rage myself. I’ve stepped out of a vehicle ready to “teach someone a lesson,” believing for a moment that I was justified. Thankfully, I eventually learned something that changed everything about how I react on the road. It’s a simple sentence that has stuck with me and may be worth passing along: No one wakes up in the morning trying to cause an accident.
Most road-rage situations don’t begin with malice; they start with a mistake. Someone drifts into a lane, misses a signal, brakes too hard, or looks down at the wrong moment. Annoying? Absolutely. Dangerous? Sometimes. But intentional? Almost never…