You’re running late for an appointment and hit a traffic jam. Or maybe someone cuts you off. How do you respond? Driving can be stressful, but feeling angry when behind the wheel could lead to aggressive driving, distracted driving or even an accident.
What Is Road Rage?
Aggressive driving can take many forms, like tailgating, weaving and speeding. It happens a lot: One survey found that nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger or aggression behind the wheel at least once over the course of the prior year. The consequences can be serious: Aggressive driving played a role in 56 percent of fatal crashes over a five-year period, according to one analysis.
Here’s what to know about road rage, including tips on staying calm and what to do when confronted with an aggressive driver.
Road Rage Factors
Here are some common factors that often contribute to road rage incidents or aggressive driving behavior.
- Traffic delays
- Heavy traffic, sitting at stoplights, looking for a parking space or even waiting for passengers can increase a driver’s anger level.
- Running late
- Running behind for a meeting or appointment can cause drivers to be impatient.
- Anonymity
- If drivers feel that they probably won’t see other drivers again, they may feel more comfortable engaging in risky driving behaviors like tailgating, cutting people off, excessive honking or making rude gestures.
- Disregard for others and the law
- Some drivers may think the rules don’t apply to them.
- Habitual or learned behavior
- For some drivers, aggressive driving may be the norm.
Most Common Forms Of Road Rage
- Tailgating
- Yelling
- Honking in anger
- Making angry gestures
- Trying to block another vehicle from changing lanes
- Cutting off another vehicle on purpose
- Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver
- Bumping or ramming another vehicle on purpose
How to Avoid Road Rage
Make sure you have the right car insurance policy to protect yourself from aggressive drivers or if you find yourself the victim of a road rage incident.
Before You Get Behind The Wheel
- Don’t rush. Give yourself time to get where you’re going; you’re less likely to become impatient and take unnecessary risks.
- Cool off. If you’re upset, take time to calm down.
What To Remember When Driving
- Give other drivers a break. If someone is driving slowly, keep in mind they might be lost.
- Use hand gestures wisely. Keep gestures positive—say, waving to a driver who lets you in when merging.
- Don’t tailgate. Always keep a safe distance from the car in front, no matter how slowly they might be driving.
- Lay off the horn. Honking out of frustration won’t solve any problems; it will just increase the stress level for everyone on the road.
- Don’t stop to confront another driver. Stopping could lead to a dangerous situation for everyone.
If Another Driver Acts Aggressively
- Stay away. Safely change lanes, gradually slow down or even exit the highway to keep a safe distance from the aggressive driver.
- Don’t reciprocate. Ignore the temptation to respond to the other driver; it could cause the situation to escalate. Don’t make eye contact.
- Don’t stop. Stopping could lead to a person-to-person confrontation, which could be dangerous.
- Watch your back. If you’re worried that the other driver is following you, keep your doors locked and drive to the nearest police station.
Taking a defensive driving course could help you stay safer on the road; it could also qualify you for a discount on car insurance. Search for a course near you at geico.com.
Read more: Distracted Driving: Here’s Why You Should Pay Attention
Sources 1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2 AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety 3 Insurance Information Institute
Kerry says,
So this is nice advice if the other driver has some smidge of sanity, but I’ve also been tailgated in the right hand lane while I’m already going 10 miles over the speed limit (such as 65 in a 55 zone).
How about some advice reminding people that they don’t have a right to speed, even in the left hand lane?
Bob says,
The left lane is a passing lane. Would you move over if a cop was behind you? The reality is you should always move over to the right if traffic wants to go faster than you are. Your job is not to tell people how fast to drive or to obey the laws. The law also says slower traffic to the right. By not moving over, you are just as much as fault as the person who is speeding. Do yourself a favor and move to the right lane if you are being tailgated!!
Albert Hess says,
The doctor is wrong. “doing 66 in a 65 with a 1/2 mile of cars right on my bumper” means that you you have a 1/2 mile of cars breaking the speed limit and tailgating laws. with the desire to even further break the speed law.
Albert Hess says,
Unless on an emergency response a cop would never exceed the speed limit or tailgate. Believe me, my brother in law is and he would never do anything like that.
John Saunders says,
The fact that there are people (including me) who speed is proof that the “don’t have the right to speed” is not relevant. Neither is “speeding is illegal”. These thoughts should not be part of your decision on how to drive.
Clearly, the speeder has decided to violate the law, whether or not he has a right to do so. The next step is for us all to deal with that fact in a safe manner.
Real says,
What people that are from their area should look at the license plate to see why their driving slow or moving in or out of the lanes.Their probably lost or don’t know where they are.I’ve been it that situation,where I was on a one way going the wrong way.So I tend to stay back enough so I don’t make the person ahead of me driving more nervous.Try to relax when your driving,and be thankful,because it’s previlage to have laws in affect.Otherwise the roads would become death hazard to drive on!
Bill Branham says,
It happens quite often and there should be cameras on cars & instruments to detect it. I think more emphasis should be placed on this behavior by senior law enforcement officials including more regulations to prevent it. It has become a major problem.
Real says,
I totally agree on cameras speed monitors on vehicles. This way insurance companies could give bigger discounts for those who stay within the speed limits.
Albert Hess says,
Why do I see so many “senior law enforcement officials” cruising the left lane at 85+ particularly around shift change time.
Kirk Rowley says,
What is the apology gesture?
Judith says,
It would really be nice to have a universally-understood “Oops–I’m sorry” gesture; I don’t know of one used in America that everyone would understand. I suggest three light taps of fist on forehead while nodding head slightly (try it–it doesn’t take a second) maybe not universally understoodat present, but very hard to take as a sign of aggression. Surely such a gesture would calm most situations. We should teach something like this in driving schools.
John says,
If someone is speeding, tailgating or driving aggressive, i always imagine this scenario: the poor guy just received a message informing him that his kid/wife/mother….was transported to the hospital and he need to get there now. Works for me.
Mike DeGeorge says,
The most astonishing fact mentioned here , is That out of 10,000 documented incidents there were more than 12,000 injuries reported.
Also I think the most helpful advice here is to allow yourself more time for the journey. Stress is such an overwhelming factor. The Combination of work stress ,relationship stress ,and driving stress can be very lethal ,People just go over the edge.
One thing that is not mentioned here, that probably should be mentioned, is to value other people’s time. Just because it’s Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock, doesn’t mean that someone behind you isn’t on his way to work. When you’re in the turn lane and you get the arrow please go don’t wait five seconds( finished texting )and then go. putting ourselves in other people shoes (lowering our expectations) definitely lends itself to making good decisions while on the road because it gives us sympathy for others instead of creating frustration .
CJ Giordano says,
You need to make a conscious decision not to express the anger you feel towards a hostile or irresponsible driver. Move over. Get out of the way. Get far away.. Slow down. Speed up. Apologize–whatever it takes. You have everything to lose if you don’t.
yun ping zheng says,
100% ok
Karen says,
Tailgaters hate it most when you slow down way below the speed limit, then wave at them with a big smile when they pass you.
Albert Hess says,
Of course that is only true in less than .00000001% percent of the time. Do you ever feel that you are fooling only you?
pierre giordani says,
I totally agree with with GEICO’s 7 ways to avoid road rage. I will definitely put it into practice. Sometimes a little guidance can go along way into the right path!
Christian says,
Can’t we all just get along?
Krauru says,
Didn’t sound like Maxwell wrote the article, sounded more like the Gecko’s thoughts. I feel the biggest problem is not the road rage of others, but the road rage WE feel when we see other drivers carelessly driving WHILE ON THEIR CELL PHONE. Put the phone down and do what you have been responsibly licensed to do-Drive the car!
Pedro says,
Amen
William says,
Very good GEICO – Simply make an apologetic gesture even if you are NOT at fault. It totally diffuses the incident; it always works for me
R. Sixbey says,
Road Rage is an underlying symptom that comes to the surface from an already enraged
mind-set brought on from an extended build up of personal matters that don’t have much
to do with what is taking place in traffic. Its that ( chain of events ) that has already taken place long before that ugly human behavior of Road Rage makes the 6:00 News.
Dali Burgado says,
I think this hits the nail on the head!
Baz says,
The majority of drivers in the USA, cannot drive properly, or appropriately. Is it out of ignorance? Largely yes. Is it the drivers fault? No!
It is the governments fault, for having, low pass standards, for taking your drivers test!
Yes the standards for qualifying in passing your drivers test, is ridiculously low!!
I only know this, because i have had to take my test in other countries, besides here.
For example, in the UK, it is at least an hour of physical driving [besides theory] Where you will cover, hand brake hill starts, in a manual gear shift car, emergency brake stops, 3 point turns, random sight tests, of number plates, you even have to do motorway driving, and much much more….. In fact if you are not seen to be using your mirrors [checking them for who is behind you etc] EVERY 15 SECONDS, IT IS AN AUTOMATIC FAIL, by the DMV test person!!
If you fail to use your signals, you will fail, the list is endless….And so it should be, why? Because it teaches you proper protocol, a better appreciation for others, a greater understanding, of the road, and peoples GOOD habits, and most of all, it teaches you, better manners, to be more respectful, and aware of others, and your surroundings.
One of the main problems here in the states, has already been mentioned, TAILGATING!
But largely, and i say largely, you’re seeing it in the wrong light! For example, motorway driving, that 3rd lane, the fast lane, THE OVERTAKING LANE, is exactly what it is, you have no right, to stay, or hog that lane, over take, and move back over, as soon as it is possible.
It is NONE of your business, as to why someone is going faster than you, or OVER the speed limit, there may be a very good and valid reason, for them to be in a hurry,
It is sheer arrogance to sit in the outside, OVERTAKING lane, especially, and i see it all the time, where there is absolutely no one in front of you, in that lane, but you are holding back all the traffic! And yes nine times out of ten, you are to be seen, on the phone, wrapped up in your own selfish world, a word comes to mind here, narcissist.
I have even seen numerous times, where the emergency services, cannot even get passed these hoggers, and are oblivious, to checking their rear view mirror, as to what’s behind them.
Why is this concept, so difficult to understand, what do you not get? Maybe you need to re read the Highway Code!
You may find this funny, but this is my pet peeve. When 3 cars are travelling side by side, in all 3 lanes, and there is absolutely nothing, no cars in front of them, it’s like they’re holding each others hands, doing the usual average 55-60mph, and not allowing anyone to pass, sheer stupidity. You’re not supposed to be all doing the same speed in all 3 lanes, if you want to drive slower, use the inside lane, or get in behind the rest of the flow of traffic, sheesh.
And you wonder [not that it’s right] but people have no choice, but to undertake you [on your blind side] because you will not move over, in the overtaking lane, hence they’re forced to use the middle, or even the inside lane!! Please please please, try and wrap your head around this way of thinking, after all this is the law, it is also a universal/international law. Get with it!
Russ says,
Bravo!