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
Lex says,
Living in a city with extreme traffic and road ragers, I’ve learned to leave early or just ignore. .. getting into an altercation on the road just isn’t worth it!
Bob says,
The right lane is for driving, the left lane is for passing. Don’t block the left lane. A blocked left lane creates weaving, tailgating, and accidents. I drive 5 mph over in the right lane, and let faster folks pass on the left.
Jorge Escalante says,
Living in Los angeles there are so many crazies. With this in mind I drive a fast compact to get out of sticky situations. This has saved my life once from a homocidal driver that tried to do wreck into the back of my car. Thanks 6 speed xrs I hope I never have to make a claim
VK says,
Each is own defensive driving always wins .
Mehendra s. says,
This is wonderful advise for everyone. As a daily driver, these strategies help people with road knowledge. If everyone followed these simple steps driving will be an entire different ball game.
Sharon says,
I drive a lot and see many foolish self centered drivers who put many in harms way diving in and out of lanes at a high rate of speed without regards to anyone’s safety. I have found going posted speed limits keeps me moving through most lights instead of fast and stopped at light. If people would just figure out that lights are tied to speed limits, and learn to have patience, they would keep moving and arrive alive.
TG says,
Hard to believe there’s no mention of how cell phone usage affects attitudes. Ever follow someone yacking on their phone completely unaware of others while you are not able to pass? Even if hands free you can practically determine what the conversation is about by the inconsistent speeds.
Paul Ellefson says,
Always wish the other drive is driving as well as you do – and practice the your rules.
He can be as right as you are.
Paul
DJ says,
Years ago this guy in a pickup truck started honking at me and drove up next to my car and started yelling at me. Apparently, I must have accidentally cut him off which I wasn’t aware of. I immediately became angry and rolled my windows down to yell back at him and maybe give him the middle finger. But then something told me just say sorry. So I yelled back to him, “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I cut you off”.
You should have seen his face. He was stunned. He didn’t know what to say. He then yelled back something like, “don’t make it happen again” and drove off.
I could have escalated it, but it was better that I didn’t. Sometimes it just takes one person to say “I’m sorry” to diffuse a situation.
Al says,
Some drivers do make mistakes on the road while driving and nobody is perfect.
Those made mistake then get the label of being a bad driver. In my case, if I’m affected
by this bad driver, I can either ignore it, and by changing how I think . But sometimes
it is a good idea to confront this bad driver in order to correct his mistake and
to recognize not to do it again. How to do it, it will take longer than this email to show how.
Ron says,
My biggest concern is tailgating. We live in a rural area and access to our road is 2-lane and the speed limit is 45. I usually go approximately 50 mph but it doesn’t seem to matter as someone is always on my bumper. When I turn right onto our dirt road, it gets pretty scary. Why is it so difficult for people to understand. Safe driver for 50 years. Go figure.
Jamie says,
Perhaps everyone should remember that people are inpredictable and should just pay attention to all lanes and all traffic around them. If you are paying attention, you will have plenty of time to notice that car in front of you is going slower than they should be or much faster than they should be. You can always tell when people are stopped at a light, can’t you. Slow cautious drivers, fast speed demons, speed limit followers, it’s all the same if you aren’t paying attention which is usuallu the case. Just assume that everyone is a bad driver or unpredictable and you will be ale to avoid an accident… All because you are paying attention and wary of other cars. Never think that people aren’t turning into your lane just because their blinker isn’t on and just because someone is in a turn lane with their signal on doesn’t mean they won’t jump back in front of you at the last minute. Which has has happened to me several times but I was paying attention and managed to avoid being hit.
Jack Butz says,
I do three things:
1. Always leave plenty of time to get where I am going.
2. If I am behind a really slow driver, I pull over and read a good book.
The first time I did this I told my wife I was avoiding the shrapnel.
I usually read between 5 and 10 minutes that way most likely they are ahead of me enough not be a problem.
3. If I am holding people up, I figure it’s time to pull over. One car that
Gets behind me that wants to get there faster than I do gets me looking for a pull out. Here on the Oregon coast the roads a windy and I saw one couple with a baby an example of a terrible accident both parents were killed when they accidentally went around a corner on
The wrong side. The baby survived but sadly without mom and dad.
I would never want to be responsible for that kind of accident.
Clark says,
I drive at 60 or the posted limit if it’s lower than 60 using cruise control 100% of the time. Don’t like it? Pass me! Still don’t like it? Too bad. You may feel free to get as many traffic citations as you can afford to pay. I’m driving the posted limit (or 60) and I really could care less what you or anyone else thinks about it. I stay safe, out of trouble, and enjoy lower insurance rates. Try it. A 1000 mile trip driven at 60 MPH takes 16.67 hours. That same trip driven at 70 takes 14.28 hours. The difference is 2.39 hours. 2 hours on a 1000 mile trip. Hello? You will consume 30% more gasoline running 70 compared to running 60, and your chances of surviving an accident at 70 compared to surviving an accident at 60 deserve your full and undivided attention. Slow down. Leave early enough to arrive on time after driving at or below the posted limit and taking probably traffic delays into account. Your failure to leave early enough to arrive on time is, quite frankly, not my problem!
Tim Jackson says,
I’ve got a great tip, but it’s obviously easier said than done. Leave a bit earlier than the time you calculate to drive to your destination. If you end up early, bonus!