Dear Reverend,
My husband has always been a bit of a hothead behind the wheel. He gets amped up about what I consider the littlest things and will yell, honk the horn and even flip people off. He acts like it’s perfectly normal, but I think he’s got road rage. How can I help him calm down?
Axle Greeze (man, 41)
Dear Axle Greeze,
While road rage is often considered more of a big-city problem, recent events have proven that Vermont is not immune. Overly aggressive driving can easily escalate and result in some horrific outcomes, so it would behoove your husband to work on getting his behavior under control.
One of the best ways to avoid driving stress is to give yourself more time to get where you’re going — especially this time of year, with the potential for bad weather and extra holiday hustle-and-bustle traffic. A good rule of thumb is to add 10 to 15 minutes to your travel time if possible. Arriving somewhere a little too early is far better than freaking out because you’re running late.
Creating a calm driving environment is also key. Avoid multitasking, like talking on the phone or eating, while you’re driving. If the news stresses you out, don’t listen to it on the radio. Play upbeat, happy music. It’s hard to rage when you’re bopping along to your favorite song — unless it’s death metal. So if that’s your go-to, try something lighter in the car.
Tailgating is a big no-no. Always leave room between you and the car in front of you to allow for reaction time if they stop short. And if someone is on your tail, avoid the urge to brake-check them and don’t speed up unnecessarily. Keep a steady speed, and give them the opportunity to pass if you can.
Most important: Remember that you can’t control the behavior of other people, but you can control how you react. If someone cuts you off or is driving like a jerk, just take a deep breath and let it go. No driving peeve is worth losing your temper and risking your safety.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 2 2025.
