2. Knowledge is power

I realize that I’m on an extreme end of needing to know things. I have to know everything. Make an offhand comment about something of interest to me, and I have to look it up. Then down the rabbit-hole of the internet I go. An offhand comment about a mark on someone’s face is why an hour and a half later I knew all about how HIV/AIDS is an epidemic in Russia because their officials don't care about their prostitutes and drug addicts… I digress. At least for me, making sure that I know all of the rules and the conventions and the reasons behind them makes me a much calmer driver.

For example, did you know that waiting until the end of a merge lane is actually a recommended practice by multiple driving authorities? The principle is that if you “zipper” together, traffic goes much faster. This never turns out as well as any of those driving authorities imagined it would, but either way, reading some articles about it can help understand what that extra lane is for and why getting mad at the merging people isn’t helpful.
Another thing that is helpful is to know exactly what to do in contingency situations. Do you know the correct way to handle a disabled traffic light? Or flashing yellow or red lights? Again, you knowing it doesn’t make other people know it, but at least it reduces your stress in those situations. You approach it more like “I know what the right thing to do is, I just have to watch out for the people who have no idea” instead of “Oh crap”.

Being confident of road rules and conventions reduces a lot of stress and anxiety in driving.

Next cliché.

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