We all know driving can be stressful. One minute you’re minding your own business and the next someone cuts you up. Manoeuvres like that can be annoying and irritating, but for some of us, it can make us incandescent with rage. So what is road rage, and what things can cause it?

我们都知道驾驶可能会有压力。前一分钟你在管自己的事，下一分钟有人打断你。像这样的动作可能会令人讨厌和恼火，但对于我们中的一些人来说，它会让我们愤怒地白炽灯。那么什么是路怒症，什么因素会导致它呢？

Road rage, simply put, is a sudden burst of anger that motorists experience when they feel angered by something another driver, cyclist or pedestrian has done. Road rage can manifest itself in several ways, including verbal or physical threats, insults, and even dangerous driving. The drivers themselves may feel anxiety and stress, which can cause them to speed or swerve across the road. Experts like Leon James, a professor of traffic psychology at the University of Hawaii, US, warn that experiencing these moments, especially repeatedly, could be harmful to our health due to the number of stress hormones entering our bodies.

简单地说，路怒症是驾驶者在对其他司机、骑自行车的人或行人的所作所为感到愤怒时突然爆发的愤怒。路怒症可以通过多种方式表现出来，包括口头或身体威胁、侮辱，甚至危险驾驶。司机自己可能会感到焦虑和压力，这可能导致他们超速或转向过马路。美国夏威夷大学交通心理学教授莱昂·詹姆斯（Leon James）等专家警告说，由于进入我们体内的压力荷尔蒙数量众多，经历这些时刻，尤其是反复经历，可能对我们的健康有害。

So, what can cause us to experience road rage? Being tailgated, undertaken on a busy motorway, seeing someone swooping across several lanes, chatting on their phone, or hogging the middle lane in front of us are just some of the things that may stress us. And what about parking? Someone stealing the space we wanted at the last second could tip us over the edge! Being aware of what can trigger these feelings of rage may be key to controlling it.

那么，是什么会导致我们经历路怒症呢？被尾随，在繁忙的高速公路上行驶，看到有人在几条车道上俯冲，在手机上聊天，或者占据我们面前的中间车道，只是可能给我们带来压力的一些事情。那么停车呢？有人在最后一秒偷走了我们想要的空间，可能会让我们翻到边缘！意识到什么会引发这些愤怒的感觉可能是控制它的关键。

So what can we do to keep relaxed? Try driving in a good mood, and if you see a traffic jam, just remember that they can’t be avoided. And try leaving a little earlier in future. Also, if you see someone who is really angry, try not to maintain eye contact, and don’t get out of the car to confront them. And if you feel stressed and anxious, try pulling over somewhere and resting while you calm down.

那么我们能做些什么来保持放松呢？试着心情好，如果你看到交通拥堵，只要记住它们是无法避免的。并尝试在将来早一点离开。另外，如果你看到某人真的很生气，尽量不要保持眼神交流，也不要下车面对他们。如果您感到压力和焦虑，请尝试将车停在某个地方并在冷静下来时休息。

So the next time you feel stressed while driving, just remember road rage can happen to anyone – and relaxing a bit when you feel that way may not just make it safer for you, but for others too.↳

因此，下次您在开车时感到压力时，请记住，路怒症可能发生在任何人身上——当您有这种感觉时放松一下，不仅会让您更安全，也会让其他人更安全。

词汇表

cut someone up 超车抢到某人前面
manoeuvre 开车动作
incandescent with rage 大发雷霆，怒不可遏
motorist 开车的人，司机
manifest 显现
dangerous driving 危险驾驶
speed （开车）超速
swerve （开车）急转弯
tailgate 紧随（前车）行驶，跟车太近
undertake 强行超车
motorway 高速公路
swoop 猛地开过
lane 车道
hogging 占路
parking 停车，驻车
space 车位
tip someone over the edge 把某人逼疯
trigger 触发，诱发
traffic jam 交通堵塞
confront 与…当面对质
pull over 停车