Calm down!

We don’t always see eye to eye with other road users. As we are human just like they are.

Wrapped up in cages or dressed up with motorcycle helmet helps to remove some of the human element from our interactions.

We don’t see those other road users as real people

I found myself chuntering away under my breath inside my cosy motorcycle helmet, about another driver. He had done something that must have been the equivalent of slapping me in the face, because I was not happy.

I think all he had done was braked suddenly, realising he was about to miss his turning, indicated and turned quickly. This caused me to brake hard as well.

So was I angry at the other driver or myself for not seeing it coming and being further back? Probably a bit of both.

I realised I was now concentrating on the wrong thing. I was concentrating on the other driver and not the road ahead.

I found myself saying “Have a word with yourself and wind your neck in. Get on with riding”

So a few suggestions to help keep calm when riding or driving:

• Calm yourself
  • Concentrate on what’s in front of you. Find something to enjoy the drive or ride (even if its only that you aren’t soaked by rain!)
• Shrug your shoulders or try to physically release tension (I know, not so easy on a bike)
• Try and think positively (at least that driver has turned of and will no longer bother me)
• Try singing to yourself! (Proper music might be better but don’t let it distract you from driving or riding.)
• Don’t dwell on the past but maybe after your journey evaluate your drive / ride.

You could always do some advanced driver or rider training to help you develop your skills?

#driving #learnerdriver #ridertraining #advancedrider #motorcycle