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
Greg says,
From my assessment aggressive drivers are usually the ones that became old enough to know how drive but was never taught how to drive. Driving has nothing to do with how fast you can drive, or how close you ride someone’s bumper, or how little of space you need between two cars to change lanes. Those are aggressive moves that are unnecessary. Aggressive drivers drive like this 24/7. If they were taught how to drive correctly, then trying to emulate others idiotic behavior would not be a factor. So now we have been infested with all these bad drivers of epidemic proportion. It’s sad to say that so many people are going to lose their lives because of stupidity.
Marilyn says,
Same in Germany. Good point.
pauline watson says,
Where is everyone hurrying to? God forbid you end up in a mishap all that haste becomes waste.PoP
evon says,
the passing lane is the far left side, slow drivers should stick to the last lane on the on the right side and it want slow traffic down or cause as many accidents. on just pull off the road and just rest. the interstate is not for slow drivers.
Albert Hess says,
The Interstate is for drivers who operate their vehicles between the maximum and minimum speed limits.
Erin says,
To the person mentioning driving in ENGLAND:
England is not quite the same as the U.S.A., in that there are waaay more people here and in cars. Yes, I have driven in England, Wales, Germany and other parts of Europe as well; and I can tell you that it does not necessarily have anything to do with having a higher I.Q (and how do you get this info, anyways??), rather the narrowness of the roads in towns and villages, and the people’s tendency take more care, due to that. Depending on where you are driving there, the freeways can be very busy to carefree, but nothing compared to driving in congested cities in this country. Also, they have roundabouts, which is not mainly the case here. I would not generalise too much, because Europeans are also just people and you get the occasional, very annoyed driver who tailgates, makes unfriendly gestures while zipping past you, and the likes. Although, I believe that the Brits (our cousins :-)) are quite polite and kind to allow you to move ahead of them and will wave (the way I drivers acted where I grew up in the Deep South) when you yield to them/or they to you on a very narrow town/village road. Conclusion: it is more likely to encounter angry drivers in CITIES than in TOWNS/VILLAGES.
brian says,
dont get behind the wheel when you are angree
Driver says,
It’s normal to be impatient. It’s how one acts while impatient that is the problem. Being in a hurry and being blocked by someone who is driving too slowly is not an excuse to endanger the lives of everyone else. If you need the pass someone there are safe ways to it.
There are a lot of people who drive slowly for a variety of reasons. Maybe they’ve been in an accident, maybe they’re new to driving, maybe it’s a senior citizen, or new to the area. We can’t expect everyone to drive at speeds we want all the time, but we can be more understanding and be more mindful about endangering others.
Sandra Morrison says,
Thank you for this excellent article. I already pull over, if someone is in a hurry and let them go by. They are happy and so am I. Many people are like a gerbils running a treadmill, stressed and in a big hurry. Some are texing, talking on the phone etc. Mind not on the driving. I live in a State where everyone carries guns, so that scares the heck out of me, that someone will just pop me because they are in a bad mood. I most certainly do not want a confrontation so will do all possible to avoid it. We have a lot of accidents in my State and some wacco drivers!!
Leslie of Georgia says,
I’ve been driving since I could remember (almost 40 years). I have driven in California, Nevada, Georgia, and all states in between. I have seen a multitude of drivers and it has run the gambit. But I can tell you that the drivers in Georgia take the cake. The rules of the road are up for grab here and there is a total disrespect for double yellow lines and no-turn lanes. Anyone stopping for a pedestrian (which it is a law to do) is just an open target as the pedestrian. Speed limits are made up (they now have variable speed limit signs). Talking/texting on cell phones is not outlawed and I have seen so many people being distracted by this that it scares me even in stop and go traffic! Just because you are using the speakerphone function and holding the cell phone does not mean you are hands free. Some people seem to have their permanently taped to their ears. DUIs, let’s just say that a lot of people have those tickets. Public transportation is MARTA and it’s not the greatest or the most accessible, but it is available. I’d rather take it than to drive, but to get to the station is like taking your life into your own hands. It’s totally crazy with shoulder lanes that become the MARTA exit only lane and people not paying attention until the last minute to get over. Oh well!
Carson City, Nevada was perhaps the nicest city I lived in for driving. People seemed to respect the laws there and they did slow down for school areas and pedestrians in cross walks. They were polite drivers and that politeness resulted in others being polite. Like a domino effect.
Yes, I agree with the comments about going back and reading the rules of the land. I also believe that a show of enforcement is needed. A fundamental respect for the laws would go a long way for a much enjoyable ride!
Adam Dresser says,
I’m told in Germany, if someone’s tailgating in the left lane, it’s the guy in front who gets the ticket. Americans have a lot to learn before we could have something as cool as the Autobahn.
Albert Hess says,
Most of our Interstates are superior to the very best of the Autobahns. How cool is that ? If only our Interstates had no speed limits. How cool would that be? It would give license to road rage. How cool would that be?
Yves Donald Jean says,
i have faced road rage drivers on the high way everyday on my way to work. It works with some drivers, i believe if we apply these tips everyday when we drive it will send a very good message to other drivers and we shall reach our destinations safely.
JC Tayman says,
It is a known fact that ROAD RAGE can and does KILL. Common courtesy and being a polite driver, more than not , will defuse a potentially dangerous situation. If you want to have that “feel safe driving on the road experience” Learn more how to be a safe driver. When you can understand why you should set your mirrors a certain way and not so you can see the vehicles directly behind you in all three mirrors but not all lanes [blind spots]and when you can negotiate any turns by keeping both hands remaining on the steering wheel[shuffle steering] and believe this or not…by continually scanning all mirrors, no daydreaming, staying attentive and being alert you will know what that driver beside ,behind and in front of you is going to do. It will happen to you AND when it does…BE PATIENT BE COURTEOUS take a deep breath and smile fore you have done well .BUT remember there is always more to know and learn. We all know that we are good drivers but its the other guy that has the problem. REMEMBER to him WE ARE THE OTHER DRIVER. Please be a courteous driver and try to smile a lot while behind the wheel. Like yawning…laughing and smiling ism contagious.
Carol Malesky says,
If there is noone in the fast lane and someone in the slow lane is driving 25 mph you
go to the left
lane too get away from them but go at least 65mph at first but then a
manic driver comes up behind you and tailgates you because they think they are just
cooler thaan you so I do try to get over again to the right lane to prevent roadrage on
the fast driver behind me. I love to drive in the fast lane at 75mph on a nice highway that I
am familiar with and 75mph I think is fast enought but I always get someone faster and up
above I see someone getting a ticket. I get the last laugh.
Love to drive
John V. says,
What about driving at 5miles over speed limit on the right lane and still get tailgated or honked ?… You get a lot of it these days
Michael says,
After driving in several different states all over the US for over 50 years, my opinion on “road rage level” depends on what state you are driving in. As an example, most people who drive expect other drivers to have common courtesy when it comes to allowing someone to change lanes when they are asked. Kentucky absolutely has the most discourteous drivers in the contry! it’s like no one has time to give up one stupid position in a line of traffic. They either ignore your request, blow there horn, give you the finger, etc. Just plain rude! These same people wouldn’t think of being that rude in a face to face situation, but put them behind the wheel of a car and watch out!