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
William Lee says,
Use turn signals in advance of turn. Learn what “Yield” means and use it properly. Keep tailgating for Football games. Observe speed limits and observe weather and road conditions. Keep off electronics and all distracting activities. Know what is happening all around you by using your mirrors. Look before you turn or back up. Use proper lanes. Know how to use four way stops! Can’t believe how many drivers don’t! Have respect on and off the road. Don’t drive impaired including sleepy driving. Keep vehicle properly serviced, especially tires. None of the above is hard to do, and would deter unnecessary crashes, injury and death.
Johnny Salinas says,
I normally drive 9 miles over the speed limit and stay on the middle lane. These way I don’t have to worry about other drivers tailgating me!
D. Caldwell says,
Often times, people are in a rush to get to work, take kids to school, make an appointment on time, etc. When someone is in a rush, and feels like their “under the gun,” they’ll speed, tailgate, cut other drivers off, etc. This all could be avoided, and eliminate much of the stress by planning for the task ahead of time, and leaving to complete the task in a time frame that allows for safe travel to the destination.
Face it, we all drive the roads, and the taking of unnecessary risk is something that can be avoided altogether by simply planning ahead. Be safe out there.
Damir Jerry Kolich says,
It is good for every driver to develop a methodology in dealing with aggressive drivers. The advice above is very good and every driver should have a list of road rage diffusing commandments.
Seattle Durango Driver says,
What rubs me the wrong way when driving is clear violation of the use of cell phones and/or texting while driving. Then there are those who can’t for no reason maintain the posted speed limit. They set their own speed with no regard to what is posted. I’ve been driving for now 30+ years without a single incident or accident. So I must be doing something right. It just annouys me with the poor quality of drivers on the road these days who are self absorbed with how they behave on the road. With little to no regard to go others. I’m at the point now that if you are stupid you get what you deserve. I have no problem stepping out of the way and letting you burn for poor driving habits. Waiting to the last second to cut over into a lane in front of me ain’t going to happen. I won’t let you in because of your poor planning. it is rude and not fair to those who follow established rules of the road. Our drivers training and drivers testing has fallen to the toilet in my observation.
Al says,
I moved to New Jersey 3 years ago and found that most of the drivers feel the posted speed limit is a “suggestion” and not the law. New Jersey has some of the most aggressive drives I have ever encountered. With a low Police presence on the road, this pattern is certain to continue. Aggressive driving puts everyone on the road at risk and will eventually lead you down a path of disaster. Speed limits are there for a reason and it is much easier and safer for everyone to follow them.
MINKA says,
Just this morning,I was coming from Oakdale.There was this driver driving really slower than the actual speed limit.I don’t know what was wrong with him.Skipping off the road a number of times but anytime I try to speed up,he aggressively did speed up.It went on about twice.Lo and behold,there stood a sheriff who was watching everything.He pulled the guy over and he told me what he saw n allowed me to go dealing with the dude who was under the influence of alcohol
Edward says,
Go the speed limit and choose the lane of least resistance. Avoid lanes where traffic is merging. Also leave the left lane open if available for passing vehicles. Choose the lane you need early and stay in it. Allow last minute lane changers into the queue. Leave as much space around you as possible. If you don’t care to overtake leave space between you and the vehicle ahead so people don’t have to pass you both at once.
Other drivers are going to be aggressive and become angry no matter how you drive. Their rage is not your fault. Don’t react or interact with them in any fashion. Just drive sanely and normally and let them have their fits. With tailgaters the only thing to do is increase following distance so they don’t ram you into traffic ahead in a wreck.
The race is against time, not the other drivers. Speeders may arrive at their destinantion 3 minutes earlier than if they’d gone the speed limit. Fines are huge if caught. Why risk it, why make it a habit. Just leave 5 minutes earlier and relax. Like it says listen to some music.
Joan says,
Several years ago I got a very expensive speeding ticket. The following year I read ended someone. It wasn’t very serious, but the accident was adjudicated to be my fault. My insurance rate skyrocketed, and I had to go to traffic school! I was extremely embarrassed, but I learned some very valuable lessons there.
Now I go the speed limit, maybe 5 miles over. I never use the cell phone when I’m driving. I drive in the slow lane. If people honk @ me, I ignore them. I was always running late, and expecting to make it up on the drive. Now I leave earlier. I obey all the rules of the road all the time!
Moe says,
If you are in the left lane and you see in your rear view mirror there’s a line of traffic behind you, move out of the left lane. You don’t belong there. If people want to go beyond the speed limit, that’s not your business. People like you cause road rage.
Martin says,
The main reason that the next slow lane driver slows down is that unlike in the USA, it is totally illegal in the UK to overtake other than in the outside lane. This avoids constant lane switching by drivers just to go a few miles an hour faster. There are severe penalties for undertaking on any UK roads.
Matthew says,
The music one is not necessarily one that will make someone less likely to get road rage. Put on some Godsmack or Metallica, not so calming, I am partial to Bethooven’s 5th on drives home in traffic, now that’s some music to help keep other drivers from bothering you.
Big D says,
The law says slower traffic keep right it’s easy…it doesn’t say if you are doing the speed limit you can stay in the left lane. Impeding traffic does not have a speed limit attached to it… you can be doing 20 miles an hour over the speed limit and if you have 4 cars behind you you are impeding traffic. move over…slower traffic keep right regardless of what speed you’re doing. if you’re going to pass somebody move into the left lane accelerate around them and move back into the right lane period…alot of those flowers on the highway are because of idiots driving in the left lane that should not be there. Remember if you don’t ignore the idiots you become one.
Gary eakin says,
I think the biggest problem with road rage is only about twenty to twenty five percent of people now days have any respect for one another treating people the way you would like to be treated would be a good place to start!!!
Dottie says,
I am retired and I live in Pensacola, FL. I have lived all over the world. Even in foreign countries and I hate to say this, but I have never met such rude obnoxious drivers in my life as they are here in Pensacola. The young males who constantly blast their music while driving, with their windows down. They do not use turn signals or what some people call directional. You constantly have to have eyes all around your head cause you have no idea of whether or not the person in the other car is going straight or is going to turn. It’s actually anyone guess. Some of the young girls do it too, but it is mostly the guys. They drive drunk and weave in and out of traffic while shooting you the middle finger. I pulled out of the way of one of these drivers just to get out of his way. Fortunately for me, a state trooper obviously seem this idiot and went right after him. I was really glad to see that happen because most of the time when this type of things happens, there is never a state trooper or a police officer around.