Which of the following is a recommended action if you experience emotional distress before driving?

Taking a moment to gather your thoughts is a recommended action if you are experiencing emotional distress before driving. This approach allows you to create a mental space where you can process your feelings, which can enhance your focus and emotional stability. Driving while emotionally distressed can impair your judgment, reaction time, and overall ability to operate a vehicle safely. By taking the time to calm down and reflect, you can ensure that you are in a better emotional state to handle the responsibilities of driving.

Engaging in other activities, such as driving immediately to clear your mind, is generally not advisable because it may lead to unsafe driving conditions. Likewise, while discussing feelings with a passenger might provide some emotional relief, it can also be distracting and take attention away from the important task of driving. Delaying driving until after dark does not address the emotional issue at hand and may not be practical or necessary. Taking a moment to gather your thoughts is the most effective way to prepare yourself mentally for the journey ahead.