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
david says,
So you now have2 lanes being blocked by “slower” drivers.
I would think that would create more angry drivers.
Bryan says,
A more recurring situation is phone users. Whether just yacking it up or texting or watching something somehow more important than theirs and other’s safety. They seem to slow down thinking that that is safer, causing others to fight through traffic to get around them. Or they sit through a green light and rush through the amber, causing normally patient drivers anger for having to unnecessarily sit through another light cycle or two.
A study conducted some time back reported that an unnecessary brake tap can cause up to a 30 minute delay a few hundred cars back.
Today’s massive traffic volume and high speeds demands more than ever our diligence and undivided attention to the road ahead and around us.
No one person owns the roads, so we must all share courteously and responsibly for a safer America.
Louis says,
Something to have with you is better then nothing to have with you just in case. I have been driving since I was 15 1/2 yrs old. Drivers Permit and Drivers License at 16, at 60 years old now, you did not have all this Road Rage back in the day, people had respect for people on the road back then. Now people get out of their Car and approach you in Road Rage, you never know, that is why I carry something with me if that ever happens, I’ll be prepare. Oh did I say Mace. Not Pepper Spray MACE. Make My Day.
Sam Weiss says,
No matter if you are driving speed limit on left lane or even faster than the speed limit. MOVE OVER to speeding cars. You’re not the judge. There can be some legitimate reasons why people speed and from your driver’s seat you have no way of figuring that out. Just assume the driver of the speeding car behind you either drunk or his son is hanging from a rope and has 3 minutes to die. MOVE OVER
Police will do the judging for you later
jeanluc gayott says,
This article or debate is extremely helpful to me and others.. because sometimes you feel alone in having to deal and respond to agressive driving. People’s behavior do change others; no matter how good of a citizen you are. I think this debate should turn into a reality show, So people can see and relate to each other better, on a daily basis.
Amy says,
I agree that drivers need to take responsibility for their own actions and if someone makes you angry on the road it’s not safe for anyone if you react in an aggressive way. That said, I personally find that keeping my emotions in check is much easier said than done. When I see someone swerving in and out of their lane or driving way below the speed limit and then quickly speeding up, or sitting at a green light I become full of rage because 9 of out 10 times its because that person is on their phone–completely unaware of their surroundings and putting everyone else in danger. I literally wish the worst on these people. I also wish there was some way I could become more understanding, so that I could stop wasting energy on an issue that seems will never change, but I just haven’t found a way. If anyone has any advice I’d love to hear it.
Shel says,
OK – What is an “I am sorry gesture”
jackie says,
Slow driver’s is what causes most accident’s and road rage. They pull out in front of me on a busy highway and go too slow in the fast lane. My husband speeds 55 in a 35, goes through stop signs without stopping and gets to go free cause he has a clean record and cop says slow down?? Really?? I go around people that are slow and get pulled over, when he asked how my driving record looks, then I get a ticket??? There is no justice in the justice system and i feel like i pay for the state headquarters building and all their saleries as well with as many tickets as I get all because 1 ticket on my record that lead them to give more and more and find me guilty just because i had 1 on my record and added up. That’s why I now after 30 years of driving, I make my own rules of the road.
cp says,
Florida native….. have lived in south Florida since 1954.
I can’t imagine where some of the drivers here learned to drive an automobile.
I have witnessed the WORST drivers on the roads here more and more as the years go by.
PLEASE Snow Birds while you are here vacationing during the winter months have the courtesy to respect us Floridians.
We are not on vacation and are working people and have daily duties to take care of.
The disrespect on the highways is getting totally out of hand.
Tailgaters as well as the people driving under the speed limit in the left lane and the the worst offenders !!!!
CP
Nikki says,
Ironically, I just had an incident last night on my way home when I was driving in the “fast lane” where the speed limit on this highway was 65 and I began to slow down because there was a car on the side of the road with it’s hazards. The vehicle behind me started flashing their lights at me. The law is to slow down or move over but this idiot did not care! Road rage is just another form of bullying!
Driver says,
It’s usually the aggressive drivers swerving in and out of traffic,cutting everybody off, who lose they’re mind when it happens to them. If you don’t like it done to you ,don’t do it to others.
Henry says,
When I lose my temper, I consider it a personal failure. It’s not easy, but the real man just sucks it up and moves on.
About 20 + years ago when I applied for my first concealed weapon permit, I had to attend class for a week. Besides shooting etc, there were classes taught by judges, psychiatrists, etc. Road rage was a topic discussed. Of course great emphasis was placed on we who were about to be able to take a life with the squeeze of a finger. The huge responsibility was made quite clear. You have tremendous power. You have nothing to prove. Suck it up and move on.
One last thing. It was pointed out that you never know the agenda or capabilities of strangers. Disarm them. How? Take full blame. Tell them you screwed up. You were a jerk. You are so sorry. Call yourself all the names they were getting ready to call you. They get to vent. When something vents, pressure drops. A real man will come away smiling to himself thinking, gee I handled that well. No one got hurt!
Gerard E Chevrette says,
You have missed the number one reason for road rage, CELL PHONES!!!!!!!!!!
Frank J Munoz Jr says,
Very Good!
Robert says,
So if the “insurance guy” is right we should all just go as fast as we want and to heck with everyone else? I don’t think so. I drive a 30 year old truck and I can’t do 65 on the highway, I avoid the highway. But some destinations require me to drive it…. At 55. This is very unnerving since Maine just upped the speed limit to 70. Honestly I don’t have a problem. I just wish the police would be less tolerant of those who are speeding recklessly and enforce the limit. Plus the speed is dangerous and very wasteful on fuel. We all should know better and drive like adults with safety in mind. Doesn’t matter when or where your supposed to be if your dead!