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Empowering drivers through educational resources

Empowering drivers through educational resourcesEmpowering drivers through educational resourcesEmpowering drivers through educational resources

Workshops for beginning and experienced drivers

Mission Statement

  Ideal weather and scenic roads helped establish a renowned car culture in Southern California. However, crowded road conditions among other things can put a damper on driving enjoyment. The Don't Drive Angry Project aims to help drivers enhance their ability to manage anger provoking situations that arise on the road so they can achieve

  Ideal weather and scenic roads helped establish a renowned car culture in Southern California. However, crowded road conditions among other things can put a damper on driving enjoyment. The Don't Drive Angry Project aims to help drivers enhance their ability to manage anger provoking situations that arise on the road so they can achieve and maintain greater driving enjoyment. We offer print resources and driver workshops for all ages and experience levels to promote safer and more enjoyable driving. Contact us to learn more. 

what to know about Emotions & Anger

Anger is a natural emotion

Anger relates to goal blocking

Thoughts cultivate emotions

Anger is a core emotion, so it is a natural and expected response under certain circumstances.  People may minimize anger because of the stigma associated with it, but acknowledging anger is an important step toward  controlling it.

Thoughts cultivate emotions

Anger relates to goal blocking

Thoughts cultivate emotions

Thoughts influence people's emotions.  Consider this - if someone or something had the power to create anger, then everyone would exhibit anger under the same circumstances. Since this is not the case it suggests that individual thoughts provide unique  pathways to anger.    

Anger relates to goal blocking

Anger relates to goal blocking

Anger relates to goal blocking

Anger typically arise when goals are blocked, either accidentally or by nefarious design.  So, when things do not go according to plan, anger can be managed by adjusting goals and reconciling expectations to better fit the situation.   

Frustration and Anger

People can control their anger

Anger relates to goal blocking

On one end of the continuum,  frustration appropriately describes the level of anger that is associated with routine setbacks. On the other end, the full force of anger is more likely felt when moral transgressions interfere with goal attainment.   

Anger motivates an action

People can control their anger

People can control their anger

If moral transgressions went unchecked by anger, people might not have the motivation to correct wrongdoings.  While anger may be viewed as necessary to overcome adversity, it is equally important to take steps to control excessive anger outbursts that interfere with productive problem solving.    

People can control their anger

People can control their anger

People can control their anger

Personal experience with failed attempts at controlling anger may promote the belief that anger is uncontrollable.  However, anger can be controlled by gaining a proper understanding of how anger works and consciously applying a method that works to address problematic anger. 

Practical & emotional solutions

The practical approach to addressing anger

The emotional approach to addressing anger

The emotional approach to addressing anger

Anger occurs when there is  a gap between expectations and reality.  A practical oriented approach to alleviating anger involves attempting to change the external reality of a situation to align with personal expectations.


There are a vast number of practical approaches.  People may coerce others to comply with their demands or distance themselves from anger provoking situations.  Sometimes people expend considerable resources to ward off anger.    


If practical solutions are available and reasonable it may be a good idea to use them.  However, there are times when practical solutions are not actually practical and/or come with negative consequences.  

The emotional approach to addressing anger

The emotional approach to addressing anger

The emotional approach to addressing anger

When practical solutions become impractical it may be advisable  to use an emotionally-based approach.  An emotional solution involves  alleviating anger by adjusting expectations to better match a situation.


There are times when it is not possible to change reality, so it becomes necessary to think differently .  Since rigid adherence to a particular way of thinking contributes to maintaining anger under nonideal circumstances, the ability to generate multiple perspectives about a situation contributes to managing anger.    


There are times when emotional solutions may be the only option available, so it can be helpful to have an emotionally-based  methodology in place to allaying anger.

The "Don't Drive Angry" Approach

Acknowledge anger

Identify angry thoughts

Acknowledge anger

A good  first step toward taking control involves recognize the physiological changes associated with anger and acknowledging anger.      

Take space

Identify angry thoughts

Acknowledge anger

When possible, separating from an anger provoking trigger for even a brief time can help provide enough of an opportunity to find a fresh perspective.    

Identify angry thoughts

Identify angry thoughts

Identify angry thoughts

People may not be aware of it, but their thinking is associated with anger.  Therefore, it is important to identify the thoughts that support anger.   

Select a strategy

Generate alternative thoughts

Identify angry thoughts

In some cases there is an obvious practical approach to alleviate anger, while in other instances an emotional solution is the only option.  Nevertheless, it is important to know when to apply the appropriate strategy.       

Generate alternative thoughts

Generate alternative thoughts

Generate alternative thoughts

It may not always be possible to get away from anger provoking situations. and in some cases people dwell on the thoughts that contributed to anger.  Therefore, it is important to address anger at the source by thinking in new ways.         


Run new cognitive scripts

Generate alternative thoughts

Generate alternative thoughts

A cognitive script is a way of thinking that drives emotions and behavior.  Don't keep anger active by ruminating on the scripts that have contributed to anger.  Instead, put anger in the rear view mirror by putting conscious effort into replacing old scripts with new ways of thinking.       

Print Resources

Just Furious: A Rational Guide To Managing Driving-Related Anger

Dr. Oakley has combined his love of driving with his psychology background to develop a comprehensive approach to managing driving-related anger. Whether you are a seasoned driving enthusiast seeking to enhance your driving mentality, or someone who is tired of the emotional drain that stems from getting angry during your daily commute, learning some of the simple truths about anger can provide a foundational step toward a safer and more enjoyable driving experience. 

Available at Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Just-Furious-Rational-Managing-Driving-Related/dp/B08JCJV2JN/ref=sr_1_1?dchil 

WORKSHOP FOR EXPERIENCED DRIVERS

Don't Drive Angry: Emotional Management Strategies for Professional and Experienced Drivers

Even the most experienced drivers can be negatively impacted by stressful driving conditions.  The Don't Drive Angry workshop takes the information and methodology contained in the Just Furious book and delivers it in an interactive format to provide professional and experienced drivers with strategies that can enhance coping under stressful driving conditions.     

Workshop For Beginning Drivers

Anger Management 101: Life Skills for Beginning Drivers

Learning to drive is a good time to start working on building a wider range of personal coping strategies.   The Anger Management 101 workshop supplements traditional driver education programs by teaching beginning drivers how to manager their emotions when exposed to challenging driving situations.  These strategies can  be generalized to help people handle a wider range of life challenges.    

About us

We are driving enthusiasts who aim to enhance your driving experience by supporting a healthy mentality.

We provide driver workshops for:

Beginning drivers 

Experienced drivers

Driving enthusiasts

Professional drivers

Car clubs

Performance oriented driving schools 

Race teams

NOTICE: This is not a therapeutic intervention for mental health problems.  People with mental health needs should seek appropriate mental health services and/or call 911 if there is an emergency.


The content of this website is based on the book Just Furious: A Rational Guide To Managing Driving-Related Anger (Copyright 2016, 2020) by Daniel Oakley, Psy.D. 


The reproduction of website content is prohibited without prior written approval.


Don't Drive Angry Project, LLC

Contact Us

DontDriveAngryProject@gmail.com

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