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
Geo Annis says,
The thing that annoys me about slow driving in the left lane is that the drivers are usually blatant about driving slower and making a whole line of cars wait. Especially on mountain roads with plenty of pull over areas and signs posted for slower drivers to let cars pass they will pass dozens of pull over areas even when cars are honking at them behind in a group. If I am behind them I will honk and then back off to give them time to safely pull over but often they ignore the chance, then what really shows their mentality is that when given a safe area opportunity to pass them only then do they speed up and make it dangerous to pass them in time sometimes causing cars to slow down and get back behind them at which time they immediately slow down again. They seem to enjoy the danger that they’re putting people into and don’t want to give up the control they have of holding the line up. If anyone is this type of driver please if you refuse to pull over, then at least slow down when someone tries to pass you or you may cause a serious deadly accident possibly multiple ones especially if someone way down the line decides to pass you and runs out of time because you speed up only at that moment. Be considerate the numbers behind you, and the open space in front of you, tell the story even if your doing the speed limit, which usually your not.
Sam Li says,
People drive heavy footed with angry feet, you may just catch up with them on the next light. That’ll all excises they do with their feet.
kazyano says,
people Some people have a bad day, but some are bully and there are people that do very stupid things that make other angry, because there action put others in danger. However there are those who are bully and are involve in road rage very often. This is the people that in my opinion are the people that need to be out of the Street. What we need to have is program in cooperation with different sources of the government and private sectors to have a data base that will put this people in the scope and to be reprehended it base on their constant bad behavior. Things like have them to pay penalties, suspension, Insurance policy cancellation, and/ or Driver’s license suspension. Something like this need to be done before is too late.
kiki says,
to those of us with the above it all attitude…prepare for the moment that sends you over the edge. it will happen. then your holier than thou attitude will change. anger is about levels and how much you can take before you blow. traffic is fantastically out of control and so are those people in every car. a blow up just waiting to happen.
James says,
Nine out of ten times, the offender is looking at their cellphone, not the road!
William M Popper says,
All USA licensed motor vehicle operators, should be required as part of the license renewal, be required by law to have ridden a bicycle in their county of residence for 72 hours as part of their license application and or renewal during each license renewal period.
Jerry says,
Thank God someone is finally addressing slow drivers in the passing lane. The rule is a simple
one, “slower drivers move to the right”. Second, as a rule, the left lane should be regarded as a passing lane, not a travel lane. Please please just check your mirrors and be courteous. If no one was behind you a minute ago and someone is now, they’re traveling faster and you’re slower. Move over.
One other thing, during rush hour when all lanes are bumper to bumper, generally better to
suspend the “move over” rule as three lanes moving at capacity are safer and faster than a lot
of passing.
BTW, drivers in almost any country in Europe do it better than we do, especially Germany and
the UK.
Sam Li says,
As a Prius driver I am light on my foot and leave enough cushion in front of me, and I got 57 MPG. I have the right to the pavement in front of me, not you tailgaters, share the road, Don’t dive like you own it. Just leave earlier instead of make up your time on the road. I slowdown for tailgater to pass me, if you couldn’t pass me that’ll slow you down. I encountered more women tailgaters than mucho truck guy. Women today are stress out and your engine are too big.
Alex says,
Are you taking responsibility for your actions? Because you seem like you’re pretty angry. If you’re sitting in the left lane and not getting over because you’re angry at speeders, you’re also guilty of road rage and breaking the law.
Mitch says,
90 % of the drivers on the road today are inconsiderate selfish thoughtless slobs! It doesn’t matter how fast your driving…they want to be in front!It doesn’t matter what lane your in, They want to be in front!They will always tailgate because of the above description…this is what they are made of…it’s in their soul.I watch the traffic in front of me….speed limit 55 they’re doing 75 and they expect you to do the same…they look like a train…driving 75 three feet off the bumper in front of them whilst using their SMART phones in their laps.I am not a road rager….I obey and respect all the rules of the road…but as far as I’m concerned,these inconsiderate imbesiles deserve a beating maybe that would learn them and maybe the cops should ticket these tailgating selfish slobs, put them behind bars.In Westchester recently some lady got caught on the railroad tracks and got killed plus killing five train passengers …….she was tailgating the car in front of her and probably on her SMART phone and before she knew it…….BLAMMO.
humberto granado says,
I would like to thanks GEICO for for taking the time to remind us to be driving educated, and respectful to others.
Nicki Giroux says,
What is an “I’m sorry” gesture?
kiki says,
one that will be mistaken for the finger. just drive on.
Etamni says,
LOL — exactly 🙂
Jim Mosher says,
I agree with the fellow that thinks lower gas prices have lead to more aggressive driving. One cost goes down, another goes up. It is particularly scary though, when you are on 2 wheels.
Cecily McLean says,
This was very good infor. Thanks GEICO
K Arnold says,
I STILL get enraged when somebody sees a long line of cars that have to move over because a lane has closed — and then proceed to continue onto the front area to then merely put their turn signal on and CUT IN THE LINE! Frankly, they DESERVE the wrath…
When driving an older car, I merely keep creeping forward (blowing my horn if I must) since they have a much nicer car than I and THEY are in the wrong. They truly need to be taught that lesson (I’m sorry).
But the above is when I’m at the front of the line. If you’re not, I recommend “hogging” the lane that is merging into yours. Specifically, get halfway over into that lane so anybody even TRYING to cut to the front must move around you (even on the shoulder of the road). MOST people get the hint – and don’t even try to start proceeding down the lane KNOWING that everyone else is waiting. But at least those who do try must work for it. And looking into the side view mirror and seeing them coming allows you to time a horn blow as they pass. Again: That’s the only ways these type people will learn — thru some form of social embarrasment to where they cannot use the excuse “they didn’t know”.
I agree with all other situations of road rage. But this situation (of merging lanes and people intentially trying to cut in) has NO EXCUSE and must have all drivers attempt to stop the best ways they can…
Etamni says,
What you are describing is just as aggressive as what they are doing — and is not defensive driving at all.