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
Jeff says,
It seems a lot of your under the misconception you have the right to break the law by speeding. It is not your right to speed it is your choice, just as it is not your right to break any laws it is your choice. Because it is not your right, it is also not your right to bully us into breaking the speed limit laws. You do not have the right to pass by breaking the speed limit you have the choice. The law allows you to pass with in the speed limit only. Yourself appointment entitled it is invalid. Below is not on your side.
Don says,
All true; nevertheless, it is not our role as drivers to enforce the speed limit if we can get out of a speedster’s way. In the mountains it’s common courtesy to pull over to allow passing–if it can be done safely and legally.
Jim says,
I commuted 150 miles round trip for 20 years. With that much driving, you can’t let yourself get upset over others driving.
Comments:
If someone is tailgating you, let them pass — you will probably never see them again.
Drive consistently — if you like to drive fast — don’t drive fast spurts and then slow down.
If you like to drive slow, stay in the right lane, and don’t have spurts for driving fast.
The idea is for traffic to “flow” at a consistent pace.
It would be neat if all drivers would have a short-range radio so they could hear what the surrounding drivers are saying about their driving. Or paintball guns. You shoot at drivers that are irritating you, and the drivers with the most paintball marks on their car have to go to remedial driver training. Just a thought.
Don says,
Acting on your paintball idea would get you arrested or worse, but I hear you. My solution for my own tendency to anger at other drivers is to leave early, so I’m not in a rush.
DENNIS says,
Road Rage is certainly a big issue; however local drivers, changing the driving rules where I now reside, is the major problem: What ever happened to using signals, using a friendly horn for passing, or just plain courtesy on the highway?
A phenomena that I call “lane-driving” prevails in this city and goes hand in hand without using right or left signals for turns or lane-changing. It’s like the original equipment in vehicles today are being ignored and never used here in North Carolina ! Also, driving in the dark or twilight hours without headlights or without lights when it’s raining: a total lack of respect (and it’s dangerous, by the way !). And finally, using the cell phone (constantly) and texting (even at a traffic light) is a pet peeve and lastly, driving over the posted speed limits.
Where is law enforcement when you need them, an ounce of prevention would be better than having to call the police to report an “accident”. Lots of tickets and stiff fines for the AGRESSIVENESS & SPEEDING should be the rule of the day !
HikerBiker says,
I’m sorry, I take exception to the carefully arranged graphic which once again projects men as predators and initiators of road rage incidents.
The mother, red-faced but having crying babies, on her cell phone as if she’s calling for help.. The teeth-baring, ‘violent’ man baring down on her while other mean grimace in her direction.
Perhaps not 100% of people will see the graphic this way, but GEICO’s message is loud and clear: This is a teachable topic first and foremost to men, because GEICO doesn’t see females as part of this problem at all.
Having five total accounts with GEICO. this alone makes me want to reconsider that.
John says,
I agree completely. Have you seen the middle-aged rich ladies driving super large SUVs on LIE and Northern State Parkway — while fixing their hair; calling who know who on their cell phone, etc.. Once I saw a lady brushing her teath while driving..
I guess she must be spitting it out or swallowing… how sad.
Ira Hayes says,
I have noticed troubling driving habits can lead to an accident. Case in point; at a “T” intersection up ahead a car pulls out onto the Right lane. Traffic is flowing normally, the driver suddenly slows down or uses the brakes, which in-turn produces an untoward reaction. The driver, that is now behind the care is totally unprepared (can’t imagine why) the driver would do such a thing, This happens frequently in major highways and the interstate where I live,
Norena Morgan says,
What about us drivers who stay in the speed limit where some tail gater who tried to bully us into drive faster than the speed limit? Yes on a two lane road. I think that person is not going to pay my fine if I got caught speeding.
Mountrell says,
Pull over and allow him or her pass you. You never know what kind emergency they may have.
Don says,
Trouble is- many people who are afraid to travel at speed on the winding parts will speed up in the passing lane, or else fail to use a pull-out. It’s unconscious driving. They’re not aware of the other drivers.
Tk says,
We are suffering from a selfish epidemic. When we enter the streets to go anywhere we are in such a hurry to carry out our own personal missions that we dismiss all other drivers. You would think that we were all going to the same place and have to be there at the same time. It is just really a lack of consideration for our fellow man/woman. If you think that the person in that car really set out to ruin your day by whatever they are doing or not doing you are wrong. Try to think that is your relative in the other car and you do not want to see them hurt. Driving is a great responsiblity and every day we put our life in other people around us hands. I value yours! Do you value mine and my family? Be safe!
Ana says,
People need to get off their cellulars and abide by the law. The laws are created to keep us ALL safe. If you want to drive much slower than the speed limit, get the heck on the right lane. Yes, leave early so you could get to your job on time.. But, don’t put us all at risk because you want to make up the 15 minutes you stayed in bed longer than you should have . Everyone is in a rush. Slow down if you must, but do it on the right lane and stay off the middle lane.
Thomas Nieva says,
WTH Ana. You want the middle lane as well now. Left lane is not enough for you to go faster than others. If you are in a rush stay off the middle and right lanes and move over to left lane.
Little C says,
People just need to slow the heck down. Leave earlier to get to your location, so you’re not in such a rush. Slow down and allow a driver with their blinker on space to merge into your lane. Above all keep your eyes on the road. Don’t assume the car in front of you has moved forward…look first. Maybe it’s time we put dash cameras in all cars. I’ve seen too many accidents..the one at fault is usually not even looking at the traffic in front of them. Then they have the nerve to scream at the driver of the car they’ve hit. Be kind, move over, slow down and give space to merging traffic. Nothing is worth hurting someone over. Not a text, not being late and certainly not a phone call. If you can’t be kind stay off the road.
Mario says,
I drive mostly in the far right lane. One day I was cruising at 50 and an SUV passed me on the left, cut in front of me and then slammed his brakes because in front of him there was an on ramp with a motorist trying to enter the freeway. Out of control in so many ways: weaving, tailgating, speeding, and not leaving himself enough room to react. This was on northbound US Hwy. 101 between Sausalito and Mill Valley, CA, where the speed limit is 55 MPH . I support stiff fines for this kind of unsafe and impatient driving, not a warning. They got their warning when they got their driver’s license. Hit them where it hurts—$500 for a first offense, $750 for the second. They won’t soon forget how they got that big dent in their bank account. I’ve heard that in Germany if a motorist is caught passing on the right on the Autobahn, their authorities confiscate their driver’s license. If that’s true, kudos to the German authorities.
AztoCali says,
What are you doing only driving 50 in a 55? Traffic jams and congestion are caused by so many people driving along below the speed limit which causes several hundred feet of unnecessary space. Let’s also fine drivers who impede the flow of traffic 500, 750, etc…keep up with traffic and you probably won’t be cut off 😉
John says,
Yes, Yes, and Yes… they should never be on the highway — stay on the side road. better yet, stay home.
Mario says,
AtzoCali: I don’t want to speed. I’m not racing against anyone. The law is clearly stated on the roadside signs: SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP TO THE RIGHT. 50 in a 55 zone if I’m driving in the FAR RIGHT LANE is legal and safe.
Melanie says,
I moved to a college town in Indiana where many of the students are from some other part of the country–or world–who simply don’t know how to drive if it isn’t sunny out. The road rage is terrifying (I now have horrible anxiety when driving), and I do get caught up in it myself. Thanks for this article!
Ed Migol says,
I’m that guy on the road who is driving at or a bit under the speed limit. I don’t pretend I’m on the NASCAR circuit.
sol says,
I’m the guy who wants to pass you. We’re all cool if you stay to the right. Fair enough?
John says,
It is great to be safe. However, going 50 mph in the left lane of a highway is insane… move to the right or take the side road or stay home. You are inviting trouble/accidents/and headaches for Normal drivers. Thanks for your understanding.
RoiEtta Belk says,
That’s ok as long as you are in the slow lane, or move over for someone wanting to go faster.
Tom says,
That’s fine, as long as you are doing it in the righthand lane. All across the country, traffic control devices, i.e.black on white rectangular signs, which are the LAW, direct that “SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT.” That doesn’t mean slower than a turtle, or even slower than the posted speed limit. It means slower than the prevailing traffic. If a driver wants to go 60 mph in a 55 mph zone, and everyone else is going 70 mph, unless he is a sworn police officer, he must do so in the righthand lane, or face two citations.
Nan says,
The speed limit is the speed limit no matter which lane you are driving in. No where does it say the speed limit is 70 mph in a 60 mph zone..
Slower Traffic Keep Right” sign tells drivers that are driving slower than the rest of traffic to move to the right so they won’t cause an incident. – It does not mean we can make the speed limit anything we want to.
Josh says,
Correct. You are a good and observant driver.
Michael says,
So you are saying it is correct to be able to break the law by going faster than the speed limit? I have driven all over Australia, New Zealand and America for 45 years and the most common denominator is people are not emotionally or technically equipped to even drive at the posted speed limit let alone over it. Very few people know how to handle skids, snow, rain, fog etc. etc. the skill set on the road is poor on average and few drive to conditions, just look at the mess when it rains or snows. I have seen too many pile ups in the snow and rain. Our ego’s seem to exceed our ability.
Dennis says,
Just reading these comments makes me wonder if we have an anger management epidemic.
Josh says,
Wondering the same thing too, Dennis
A. M. says,
Im not an agressive driver, but I simply cant stand those with their little Clean Pass Stickers on the HOV lane of the LIE traveling solo and driving slower than the cars on the outside lanes. (Prius Drivers) If you are going to cause traffic on the HOV lane, then stay outside and join the other solo drivers on the regular lanes. That sticker doesnt give you ownership of the HOV lane. That lane is to relieve traffic not create it
Russell Talmadge says,
Always in a hurry, always stressed upon arriving and always blaming someone else, is no way to drive. If you’re worried about being late, leave earlier. If somone is driving too slow, screaming and honking isn’t going to change anything.