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
Charles Brewer says,
A common cause of ro ad rage is overuse of the horn. A horn is for use as a warning. Often a long beeeeep on the horn is given out of frustration to chastise a driver who is perceived to have made a mistake. This only caused rage to the other driver, who knows he made an error, and doesn’t need any further reminder.
DavidA says,
I listen to comedy channels on my satellite radio. It’s hard to get angry when you’re laughing. Just don’t get so caught up that you become a menace on the road!
mike says,
If I’m being tailgated, I gradually slow down till the aggressive driver gives up and passes. I’m always driving speed limit or above.
I will change lane if possible, but not unless I can maintain my current speed.
I don’t automatically yield to morons. Let them learn to go with flow, not expect road to clear just for them
Vicki Rufenacht says,
Bottom line is don’t get in your car if you are upset. No different than driving drunk or on drugs. Frustration and anger can be just as deadly.
Allen says,
To help stay calm while driving, chew gum (especially for a long tense drive) and listen to comedy radio.
Arnold says,
I find that the safest way to deal with tailgaters, is to move over a lane and let them pass you. That’s pretty obvious, but if I’m already in the right lane, I simply take my foot off the gas pedal and let my car slow down gradually. They get the message pretty quickly, and move left to pass me.
Patrick says,
i recently was transferred by my employer to a new state. The difference in behaviors on the road between the two states is frightening. I have modified my time on the roads here, choosing to drive only to work and for necessity. When leaving for work i leave a half hour earlier than I need to so I can drive without pressure. I cannot change the behaviors of those with whom I share the road, but I can change mine. Please understand, I do not drive 5-10-15 mph under the limit. I am able to maintain posted speeds without fail. I overcome the erratic, slow, anesthetized, texters I encounter everyday because when I get in my car i do one thing: drive. The radio is off (usually), the cell phone is in my pocket and I focus on the road, what my car is doing and then those around me. I believe vigilance to be the best frame of mind for driving and I can only achieve this state of mind if I have plenty of time to get where I am going. I have found my trigger for anger on the roads to be directly correlated with placing myself in situations where I have “just enough time” to get to work. Bottom line, I have found my commutes to be much less eventful when I keep MY side of the street clean.
Dennis says,
I remember when driver’s licenses were earned and not considered a right. I learned to drive defensively, watching out for others around me. To avoid getting into potentially rage like situations, I tend to stick to the right lane, give myself plenty of time to get where I’m going and not drive with the pack. That way my stress level is lower and I give myself more road to operate with.
Roger says,
I just wonder when going the speed limit became an excuse for people to pull road rage. I have seen many police officers tailgating when the person in front is obviously going the speed limit. What we need is better police enforcement of the rules of traffic. What happened to the rule of staying back a safe distance? People need to be able to drive at the speed they consider safe and there will be fewer crashes and fatalities. Problem is we have too many busy bodies who want to drive the car for others. Mind your own driving, mind the rules and the speed limits and everyone will be safer. This article seems slanted toward placating the road ragers. I agree with the concept of do not respond in kind and mind your own driving, but I also think that road rage needs to be taken more seriously by insurance companies and law enforcement.
Sherry says,
Sometimes it IS hard not to get mad at another’s ignorance of the road and their unjustified rage. Sometimes it is better to laugh… the only alternative.
Example: Saturday afternoon, going speed limit of 65 in right lane (of 4 lanes). Suddenly, a tractor trailer is on my bumper, blasting his air horn. Wonder I didn’t have a an accident from that, but wanted to ask him, where exactly was I supposed to drive?
David says,
I was an over the road driver for over 1 million miles and a safety and compliance officer for 7 more years. No one has all the answers, just opinions. Mine? If law enforcement would be more attentive to driver attitude and enforce the speed limits as well as tailgating, (the big one) we wouldn’t have in my opinion 1/2 the roadrage issues today. I am now 58 years old which some may put me in the (slow folks) catagory but I do not go more than maybe 2-6 miles over the limit, thats what limit means does it not? I have no speeding or other tickets in the past 25 years. In a 50 posted area I usually drive around 53 to avoid too much attention from the ragers but get tailgated anyway which causes drivers to sometimes pass unlawfullly and dangeriously, what do you do? All the while I am watching the lawinforcment pass by not noticeing ???? Change that and you will change the stats.
Billy says,
I had experience a Road Rage Once. I was then a Long Haul Trucker going up a Steep Incline fully loaded 80,000 lbs. I’m in 3rd Gear trying to get up the Rocky Mountain. A car pulls up besides me and he didn’t notice the WY DOT [Highway Patrol] on side of the Interstate with an Broke down car. As I watch him from my side vision and the DOT Officer. I notice something flash silver like, I glance really quick to see what it was. He had a Pistol and had just cock the Gun. I slam on my Brakes and his Bullet miss my Truck, but the DOT heard it and pull his Gun and I Stopped and warned the other Tuckers of the situation over the CB [Citizen Band] Radio. The Driver never hit the brakes and speed off with the DOT after him. DOT Officer ask me was I hit and I told him I didn’t think so but will pull ahead of the Broke down Car and see. I stopped and check my Rig over good and I notice a small divot on the Front end where it covers the Radiator. I call him on the CB and told him yes I was hit but really no Major Damage. He caught the Driver at the Bottom where some other WHP [WY HIghway Patrol] threw out the Tire Nails and he was caught and apprehended.
ROAD RAGE in majority of the US is a FELONY and Shotting a Gun at an Unarm Citizen and Highway PAtrol is what got him in the Tank for a Long Time!. Well let’s just say “That driver will not be out of Prison for a Long Time!”
The Officer thank me for reacting so quickly and using my head. I told him, if he had shot me, he would have been over the Edge going down the Side of Mountain! He knew what I meant.
The thing is:
1] PAY ATTENTION
2] Always check your Mirrors and see if anyone is Driving Crazy like! If they are Directly behind you, pull over to allowed them to pass on. But Always PAY ATTENTION!
3] If you have someone with you in the Car, have them dial 911. Explain the Situation to the 911 Dispatcher. Know your Location: City, Highway, Direction and Mile Marker! This will get the Cops to you Faster, cause they will know what to look for just past that Mile Marker and when the 911 Operator ask you if you see a Police Car behind you, tell them yes if you see the Officer and explain to Dispatcher how far ahead that Car is to you!. Move over to allow them to past you, and when they find the car they will get pull over.
4] If the Officer needs you to stop, never pull in behind them. Pull ahead of both the Officer and the offender. Let the Officer come to you. He/She will ask you if that is the car. If it is, they will handle it from there! Now the 911 Dispatcher will ask if you live at such and such, confirm if it is correct or give them correct info!
5] All of us has a RESPONSIBILITY to ensure all around us are Safe. When an unsafe Driver comes into your Vision, Let the Cops do their Job, by communicating with the Officer or 911 Dispatcher! Never EVER try to Seek revenged, for its not WORTH IT! Your Life is more Valuable then the Idiots with the CAR Rage!!
6] Be safe!
Sherry says,
I’ve been in both shoes. But I look at a slow driver now as God is slowing me down and I will avoid an. Incident by just remembering God is in charge. I understand it takes awhile for this concept to take hold of you but it works. Some times. God will use a slow driver to help me get my prayer finished or avoid a traffic situation it’s happened several times.
mark says,
Surprisingly , the 90% of the total content i just read is right on. i did expect to here quite the opposite views. i drive about 30000 -40000 miles per year in the 50 mile radius of Chicago. and been doing it for over a 40 year span and I’m not a trucker.
i was taught and adhere to being a courteous driver. but those who like to make their own rules of the road or are inconsiderate of other drivers or think they should do the policing are the biggest reason for road rage creation.
in my state, the law says the slower traffic moves over to the right for faster traffic. it’s not for anyone but the police to enforce how fast someone wants to go in the left lane. right turn on red is permitted after a complete stop. whether you believe in it or not.and please read the whole sign, it may say “when pedestrians are present or during certain times of the day.
you’re permitted to enter an intersection while waiting to turn left.
school speed zones that say “when children are present” does not mean you have to think if their in school that day, it’s if you see them!
pulling over for emergency vehicles on divided roads or blocking entrances that they may need is a lack of common sense.
i believe that if some people walked down a street or in a mall like some of them drive, there would be physical altercations daily and on a grand scale.
al moe says,
When I am tail gated, I turn on the emergency blinker and that usually gets the tail gater to back off.