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
Amit says,
The fourth one is essential to diffusing and per-emptively countermanding a potentially explosive situation when it comes to road rage. Having self and situational awareness are key traits that they don’t test for when handing out driver’s licenses like Halloween candy. Here’s a big one…TURN OFF THE CELL PHONE! It has been shown in numerous studies that using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle at ANY SPEED, is actually just as dangerous if not more than driving impaired through intoxication. Nothing, and I mean, NOTHING is so important that you can’t pull the car over in a safe location and take a phone call. Either that, or invest a measly $20 for a Bluetooth headset so that you can keep your hands on the gear and steering wheel, eyes on the road, and feet on the brake and accelerator. In most states, it is ILLEGAL to operate a handset and honestly, the fines for being caught with one should be just as stiff as driving under the influence since BOTH are patently irresponsible behaviors. I don’t care what the phone call is about, like I said, you can pull over and take the call instead of posing a heightened risk to the surrounding motorists. Part of understanding road rage is understanding how you, yourself, cause road rage in others. 9/10 times, when I have been frustrated with someone driving irresponsibly causing me to pull evasive maneuvers in order to pass them, I found out through their driver’s side window that they were on the phone and they were completely OBLIVIOUS to their surroundings. Cell phones are not your best friend when it comes to road rage, let alone safety on the road.
Kevin says,
I hear you about turning off the cell phone. I’ve been riding motorcycles since the 70’s and the advent of cell phones have made it scary on the road. Surprisingly I’ve had more issues with young parents either pulling out in front of me or just oblivious due to being on a cell phone. I’m guessing this is due to the fact that they are already distracted by young kids in the vehicle and then are using a cell phone on top of it. I know it can be hectic running kids from one place to another but don’t compound an already distracted state by using a cell phone! Folks wouldn’t think of driving drunk (at least I hope) with their kids in the car but think nothing of using a cell phone.
Max says,
As a former Regional Director for many years (traveling by car) I saw many instances of road rage. Many of them ending badly. In addition to not allowing your pride to get in the way there are two rules that you can follow to keep everyone safe. Watch your speed. Keep a safe distance. Bottom line….make it to your destination alive!
Lasoaphia Quxazs says,
I found that everything depends on my mental state and according that I attract other people’s behavior. When I did not wished to go somewhere, but I had to, I attracted a tail-gaiter. Anyway I have a new KIA-Soul, green and since I have this, nobody tail-gates. I can imagine the green is soothing their rage. The color of the car before the person has an effect on the mind. And when someone came near to me in the past, I sent them a calm, peaceful thought, and they backed up without any word from me.
Dixie says,
You sent them a calm, peaceful thought?? Gee, that’s a practical solution.
Eugene Bruce says,
Stay calm as much as possible…plan ahead and allow extra time whenever possible. When it’s clear you’re behind schedule, remember it’s better to arrive late than not at all, try not to be in a rush. No job or appointment is worth the headache of an accident. Always practice your defensive driving skills, there are online courses you can take (small cost) and also receive a discount on your insurance policy. Remember, road rage usually happens when the situation is escalated.
Richard says,
One simple rule avoids most rage: KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS, or exception being if making a left turn.
Jay says,
so true. the left lane is a passing lane. everyone should stay on the right, unless they are passing. from what i’ve seen, this is the most common reason for road rage on highways. there is no reason to assume the attitude, “I am traveling at the legal speed limit, ” when in the left lane. that is an erroneous and aggressive attitude. if you are not in a rush, stay in the right lane.
Dixie says,
That’s too simplistic. Many of the encounters I have had, had nothing to do with right lane hogging: People seemingly falling asleep by the time a light turns green, illiciting multiple motorists honking horns; 2 motorcyclists riding abreast in the same lane (so it feels as if there is not enough room on either side of them to pass); motorists who seem to want the whole road to themselves because they want to go 10 mph faster than the fastest car; excessive noise from “boom boxes on wheels” with their windows rolled down, making other motorists wish to put as much distance between themselves and the perpetrators, etc. There are many reasons for road rage that I have seen.
Bass Mocharrafie says,
Always assume the other driver/drivers on the road are your close fanily and friends,
Would you be rude, cut them off or tailgate them? No
Would you allow them room and let them out of a turning? Yes
Would you apologize to them when you are wrong and thank them for whatever? Yes
Apply the walking-on-foot rule in every day life:
We are always apologizing to strangers on walkways in crowded streets and malls,
why not on roads and hiways!!!
jim says,
“Slower traffic keep right “. Right out of the DMV handbook. If you are in the left lane going 80 mph and someone comes up behind you, you are now the ” slower traffic ” MOVE RIGHT!. Simple.
Jeremy Smith says,
I second this. I would like to see a study on how may accidents are caused by people driving slow in the fast lane. Drive right pass left !
Arlene says,
I third this …why do people get SO upset when you want to go by them in the left lane? I’m a fast driver, but when someone comes up behind me I am very happy to move over and let them go.
Lauren says,
Fourth. When slow drivers stay in the left lane, it creates a dangerous situation when faster traffic must somehow dart around the slower driver. Not good. Lose the ego and move over, for safety’s sake.
Sherri says,
I keep right always. I drive about 75 MPH on a 65MPH highway twice daily. I stay in the slow lane and the other drivers have 3 other lanes to choose from. DAILY I still get people tailgating me and honking . it’s ridiculous. People are just angry and never satisfied. I think 75 in the slow lane is acceptable and I really get sick of people putting my life in danger because they act like they need to drive 95MPH. Get in the RIGHT lane and off my tail!
Dixie says,
What if you can’t move right because of traffic in the right lane matching your speed when you’re already going, say, 10 miles over the speed limit? If you speed up to move right, you run the risk of really excessive speed, thus possibly incurring a speeding ticket; if you slow down to move right, you could possibly illicit road rage from the person trying to push you up the road. Sometimes it seems to be a no-win situation, and the solution isn’t that simple. So it that case, the problem seems to me to be with the tailgater, not me.
Steven says,
Time management is the real reason left lane is even being talked about here , it is pathetic to think one is old enough to drive but can’t understand time management . See you all in the safe lane , one on the left . Fact
thermoid says,
then I will have to go around you to the right, and continue my way back into the left lane where I can resume my travel unimpeded
Steven says,
I have been a professional driver my hole life and avoiding road rage means useing your head , all ideas writen are good but avoiding eye contact , always make eye contact with other drivers, limit your driving will help best to avoid road rage . I also feel changing lanes is not the best idea , as that I have trained drivers for UPS I can say accidents happen when you allow someone to change your driving habbits . Please don’t let an angry driver cause you to have an accident with someone not even involved . Drive safe all .
Ellen Metz says,
I’m glad you published this article. It is interesting to read the Comments. My husband was a Road Rager; didn’t like to be cut off; drove as fast as possible, even when I was a pregnant passenger! Also, I lived for many years in Arizona when the Road Ragers were shooting at people in cars. No eye contact and no horn blowing were my rules.
I think there is a mood of tension in the country, and the world. We just went through a horrible Financial disaster, and people have lost their jobs. There is a lack of feeling secure. I feel that as a senior citizen. I try to stay calm when I’m driving, and even at the store. You can see the tension in people’s faces. May the world calm down so we and our children and our children’s children can have a happier and safer life.
helen walker says,
I report aggressive as soon as they get in front of me-since my brother is a sheriff deputy.
Albert Hess says,
Time management is about going as fast as YOU can without regard to others. Until you can’t.
AL says,
I really hate tailgating, it’s pushy rude and unsafe driving and can cause pile ups. Some people have children in their car too. Ya, get over I get that but sometimes you want to pass slower traffic. I also see people racing to a red light. Ya, check the DMV /RMV handbook and stop pulling off side streets making traffic stop!
Karl Seidman says,
We need to be much more stringent about giving out tickets for bad driving –not just speeding. Here in Florida it seems that many older drivers don’t signal their intentions to turn, drive less than the speed limit, speed up and slow down for no apparent reason, and don’t move over out of the left lane when someone wants to pass.
Are these not rules of the road that should be observed? I am an older driver myself and try to practice good driving skills.
Not letting someone pass is a passive aggressive act as bad as road rage.
carol scheier says,
I am the wife of a man who can not drive without cursing and tailgating. I finally have resorted to taking my own car when we are going to the same place. I knew that his driving antics bothered me, but I had no idea how much they unnerved me until I quit riding with him. I had been arriving everyplace we went completely flustered and asking for a double of whatever the first person I encountered was drinking. At present I never drink. I suspect there are plenty of women and children going through the same experience. Perhaps if angry drivers would take them into consideration, they could tone it down a bit.
It has been my experience that people who drive like this have a tendency toward Narcissism. With this in mind it may be asking too much to ask them to care about anyone but themselves. If you think about it their behavior demonstrates that they somehow want to control every other driver on the road and basically own the road. They typically yell remarks to let everyone in the car know how much smarter and better of a driver they are than all the other drivers. It makes sense that this would be the behavior or a narcissist. I hope I am wrong about the cure to road rage being so hopeless.
I hope there are some angry drivers who can take a deep breath,count to ten and spare their children and others in their car the terror of their driving.
Ken says,
Change what you can and accept what you can’t. Don’t get mad, just ignore the idiot.