Road Rage
Basic Information
Road rage is a term that signifies any display of violent confrontation between automobile drivers due to a conflict created during a driving situation. Although the term can be used for moderate acts of aggression (such as yelling or cursing), it typically refers to intense clashes where bodily harm to one of the drivers is the direct result. Typical examples of road rage-inspired behavior include obscene gestures, aggressive tailgating, verbal abuse, intentional highbeaming, and purposeful obstruction of other vehicles. In some instances, road rage can lead to shootings and the loss of life.
Road rage happens when a frustrating situation builds up until the drivers involved are no longer in control of their emotions. Unable to deal with such a situation in a relaxed manner, drivers respond with anger and belligerence. The mechanics of road rage generally play out according to the following model: a driver makes an aggressive maneuver, which causes a second driver to become angry. When the second driver responds to this perceived act of aggressive driving with hostile gestures or other displays of anger, it can trigger hostility in the offending driver. This mutual hostility can quickly escalate into verbal abuse or physical assault. Another potential road rage situation is when the offending driver does not return the anger, but becomes a victim of the offended driver's belligerent behavior. Even when the offending person drives away to avoid confrontation, the offended driver may follow them in an attempt to resolve the conflict through violence.
Road rage does not have to result from overtly aggressive driving. Several studies show that a significant number of road rage cases are caused when a driver waits until the end of an entrance lane to merge into freeway traffic. Many drivers consider this to be rude and disrespectful. Road rage can also build up from an accidental driving mistake or a misunderstanding between drivers. A driver may think he has the right of way and proceed to make an incorrect driving maneuver. In a different situation, a driver may perceive that there is enough room to make a lane change and unintentionally cut off another driver. In another example, a person may forget to indicate a lane change before moving into a different lane. The second driver may consider this aggressive driving and respond with shouting and violent gestures.
Road rage is mostly considered an American phenomenon. Since the mid-1980s the American press has increasingly been filled with road rage accounts in which drivers fight, shoot and kill one another. One study states that over 1200 road rage-related deaths occur every year in the United States. In a recent survey, about 90% of the people claimed to have experienced road rage within the previous year. Over half of those people conceded that they had lost control of their emotions during the incident. Although several theories are around to explain this phenomenon, most people attribute it to the extremely stressful driving conditions that exist in this country.
Road Rage and Men
Some studies show that men are more likely than women to be involved in road rage-related incidents. Driving statistics show that men are already 3 times more likely to cause a fatal crash. Many experts examine cultural conditioning to find out why men are pre-disposed to resort to violent behavior during frustrating road situations. These experts claim that in American culture, the male is expected to express frustration and impatience in public situations whereas the female is condemned when she responds to stressful situations with anything other than passivity and acquiescence. In other words, men are more likely to commit road rage because there is an established precedent for public displays of male aggression in our culture.
The Cause of Road Rage
Incidents of road rage have been rising in recent years. There are several reasons why such road aggression is escalating. One of the major factors is the ever-growing number of people driving on the road. In the United States today, 180 million automobile drivers share a road system that has not been built to handle this amount of traffic. As a result, drivers increasingly deal with congestion and the frustrations that come with it. The high traffic volume means that drivers must constantly adapt their own driving to the sometimes erratic driving styles of others. Drivers must keep persistent look-out for random last minute lane changes, slow downs, and speed ups. This type of vigilance can create extremely stressful driving conditions. Other frustrations that accompany congestion include wasting time in traffic, defending against aggressive driving, and dealing with periodic hostile exchanges between drivers.
Because there are more drivers on the road, there is an increased number of daily exchanges between drivers. An exchange can be completely friendly, such as when a car slows down to let another car into a lane. However, there are times when such exchanges lead to acts of hostility between the drivers.
Another possible reason for road rage is the feeling of being endangered. Behavioral reseachers consider anger a natural response to perceived threats to our own lives, or those of our family and friends. Thus, when a person perceives another driver making a reckless driving maneuver that could potentially endanger lives, they may become angry. The offended driver may not know how to release this anger other than by acting aggressive towards the offending driver.
Although driving circumstances ignite the confrontation, most behavioral experts agree that certain people are pre-disposed to losing control of their emotions while driving. Studies have shown that people who are greatly affected by mood changes are much more likely to be unsafe drivers. Their driving quality particularly decreases when they drive while in a bad mood. Other persons who are considered unsafe drivers are people who are more likely to be affected by the behavior of others. These people often feel compelled to react to the actions of other drivers, which can lead to confrontations on the road. A person may be inclined to aggressive behavior on the road if:
- they are rushing to get somewhere
- they are stressed out from high traffic volume
- they are having marital problems or other personal crises
- they are suffering from work frustrations
- they have difficulty getting in touch with their emotions
- they are depressed
- they have difficulty releasing stress or managing anger
Another explanation for road rage involves the territorial nature of human beings. Some reseachers claim that an automobile is an extension of a human being's territory. When a perceived aggressive driver intrudes upon this staked-out space, the offended driver may feel threatened. Acting out of a need to re-claim territory, the offended driver may respond in an aggressive manner. For example, they may make obscene gestures, or they may abuse the offender with hornblasts. Such behavior is fairly common on today's congested roads. In many cases, the hostile exchange does not escalate beyond the offended driver being satisfied that their aggressive response has caused the offending driver to become aware of them. This is taken as a sign that their territory has been re-established. In such an instance, the drivers gradually move away from each other on the road.
Sometimes, however, the offended driver may resort to more aggressive attempts to re-assume territory. They may closely tailgate the offender, or try to pass them in order to cut them off in a reckless manner. This type of retaliation is incredibly perilous and can cause fatal accidents. It can also result in the original offending driver becoming just as hostile as the offended driver. When both drivers are equally angry at each other, the conflict can rapidly turn into a dangerous conflict. In situations where the drivers cannot move away from each other (at red lights or in heavy traffic), the two infuriated drivers may get out their vehicles and physically assault each other. They may also try to inflict damage on one anothers' cars. In increasing instances, road rage assailants have pulled guns and shot their adversaries, or brutally battered them. Such extreme road rage-related violence sometimes results in loss of life.
Prevention
Many factors pre-dispose a person to behave in a car in ways that lead to road rage. In most cases, these factors can be reduced through behavioral modification. Most specialists agree that road rage prevention needs to be both proactive and reactive.
Proactive prevention means that drivers need to learn how to be safe on the road. Drivers in the United States would greatly benefit from disciplined practices that help in the minimization of stress. Stress has been scientifically proven to impair decision-making skills, which in turn can create dangerous driving situations. A minimally-stressed driver is less likely to ignore a traffic sign or make a offensive lane change, events that often lead to road rage. Activities such as yoga, exercise, healthy eating, and listening to relaxing music have all been shown in studies to lower stress levels. Many people listen to humorous albums or novels recorded onto tapes to cope with frustrating situations such as traffic jams.
Along with reducing stress, drivers need to concentrate on driving when they are behind the wheel. Driving is a tremendously complex activity that involves a great deal of responsibility. When a person thinks about things such as problems or upcoming situations while driving, they pose a threat both to themselves and to others on the road. It is very important that a driver can clear the mind and focus on the task at hand before getting behind the wheel. If this is impossible, the driver should wait a while before driving. People should definately avoid driving when they are in a bad mood or feeling strong emotions.
A third aspect of proactive prevention is driving with respect. Drivers should be conscious of others on the road. Before making lane changes, a driver should make sure the space is clear. If a car is oncoming, the driver should not try to rush the maneuver. At the same time, drivers should avoid tailgating by leaving plenty of room between their car and the car they are following. Safe driving practices such as these are very effective in diminishing the risk of road rage.
Reactive prevention is the second kind of prevention. It means that drivers should strive to be tolerant of other drivers on the road, even when they make mistakes or drive aggressively. When a person cuts off another driver or aggressively moves into a lane, the offended driver should simply let it go. While this degree of tolerance can be difficult, it greatly reduces the incidences of road rage and diminishes the likelihood of violent confrontation. It is important that people on the road do not take personally the acts of other drivers. Drivers should not assume that all acts of aggressive driving are intentional. Many perceived acts of aggressive driving are actually mistakes or errors. When a person recognizes the possibility that a perceived aggressive maneuver is unintentional, it makes it easier for the offended driver to let the situation go.
Reactive prevention also means that drivers should not react to hostile drivers. When a driver thinks that another driver disrespected them on the road, the offended driver will often react in an angry manner. They may yell obscenities at the driver or make offensive gestures. They also may drive in reckless ways that endanger the offending driver, such as tailgating or swerving. The first driver should simply avoid the other driver in any way possible. The driver should avoid behavior that can escalate the tension. For example, the driver should not make eye contact or return the gesture. Many experts suggest that the harassed driver slowly move away from the hostile driver, either by safely changing speed or by switching lanes. If the hostile driver continues to look for trouble, the other driver should definately keep from driving into unpopulated areas. The harassed driver should also try to avoid stopping the car. It may be a good idea to drive to a police station or a busy area
such as a shopping mall. If for some reason the harassed driver must stop, it is crucial that they do not get out of the car. They should lock the doors, and honk persistently if the hostile driver tries to get into the car. If at least one of the drivers does whatever necessary to avoid getting into a fight, chances are a potential incident of road rage will be prevented.
Conclusion
While aggressive driving is an increasing phenomenon in the United States, the chances of being attacked during a road rage-related incident are relatively small. In most cases of road rage, the offended driver harasses the offending driver by using gestures or obscenities, and then the two cars gradually move away from each other.
As the problem receives more attention in the media, drivers are becoming more familiar with how to deal with aggressive drivers. Due to frightening stories about road rage attacks, many drivers in the United States have learned to not respond to hostile drivers. At the same time, law enforcement officials hope the placement of cameras on streets and freeways will help prevent roadside confrontations.
One important thing to remember is that road rage and aggressive driving are not new phenomena. People have always driven aggressively, but the roads were never as congested as they are today. The fact that there are more people driving cars nowadays means that there are more encounters that can potentially turn into hostile situations. In other words, road rage has simply become more prominent as the roads have become more crowded.
Regardless of congestion, road rage and aggressive driving does not have to occur. The factors that pre-dispose such behavior can be modified and drivers can learn to support one another on the road. Another crucial aspect to understand is that incidences of road rage typically involve two frustrated drivers antagonizing each other. In situations where one of the drivers chooses to not escalate the tension, road rage is often avoided.
Always Your Choice Updated August 2001