The Most Common Form Of Road Rage

Anger is a compelling and reactive emotion capable of making us do things in an instant that we usually wouldn’t consider. While this innate emotion can be controlled in some instances, there is nowhere it’s more potentially dangerous than on the road.

We’ve all heard the term road rage at some point. This word encompasses all acts of violence and assault carried out on the road, leading to the parties involved being rushed to the hospital, and the event ending up as headline news. Drivers express their frustration on the road every single day and as unfortunate as it is this negative behavior that puts countless lives in danger doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

The science of road rage Incidents

Road rage is generally triggered by some action on the part of one driver which causes another to feel offended. Some things that lead to road rage mostly revolve around drivers switching lanes without any indication, slow driving, tailgating, and a variety of unsafe driving practices that are often perceived as threats.

The way we choose to respond to each of the above triggers is determined by some specific factors, some of which are listed below:

• Individual factors such as mood, beliefs, age, and gender
• Environmental stressors like weather conditions, heavy traffic, time constraints, and road construction
• Over-generalising and the way we interpret an incident
• The thought that we may never meet the aggressor ever again
• Inability to express our anger in any other way than with violence.

Uncovering The Most Common Form Of Road Rage

According to reports, men are more likely to drive aggressively and make angry gestures than women. Statistics also show that foul language is the most common type of aggressive driving behavior and while it’s mostly learned behavior, stress level is also a significant contributor.

Some road rage triggers that cause aggressive drivers to make rude gestures behind the wheel include other drivers changing lanes, cutting off another vehicle in a traffic jam, people driving slowly or on the road shoulder, and when a driver in front misses the green light.

The most alarming statistic is that about 12 percent of drivers admit to carrying firearms in their vehicles. Keeping a cool head while behind the wheels is crucial since one thing can lead to the other during a road confrontation.

How to not be tempted into aggressive driving behavior

All drivers are susceptible to aggressive driving, the only difference is that some are quicker to engage in it than others. Here are some useful techniques to help you keep your emotions in check:

1. Don’t let yourself be swayed by the illusion of control

It’s only natural to think we’re in perfect control while driving, although this feeling can sometimes be very misleading. Over 80 percent of drivers believe they have impeccable driving skills, so they find it difficult to cope with criticism.

When any other driver confronts angry drivers such as these because of their poor driving choices the situation often spirals out of control, making their behavior unpredictable.

2. Always remember that your fellow drivers are also human

All drivers on the road, ourselves included are human. This simply means that we each have positive traits as well as faults. The best way to avoid road rage incidents is by making an effort to see things from other people’s perspectives rather than jumping to conclusions.

3. Not All Drivers Have Malicious Intentions

Often we are quick to assume other drivers are out to get us or harbor ill will toward us. While we usually convince ourselves that the negative actions of other drivers are intentionally directed at us, it isn’t always the case as sometimes their behavior stems from benign motivations.

4. Try To be more Understanding When You Feel Slighted By Other Drivers

It’s essential not to point fingers or retaliate when you feel offended by other drivers. Playing the blame game usually never ends well, especially when driving. Rather than seeking revenge, you can simply shake the incident off as a mere mistake, because there’s a good chance that the person at fault didn’t put any thought into their actions.

5. let Go Of The Struggle

Constantly struggling to prove a point to reckless and inconsiderate drivers will get you nowhere, if anything it will only endanger your life and possibly the lives of other people who have nothing to do with the issue. Although it can be tough to turn a blind eye to minor grievances on the road, it’s not impossible.

6. Take Deep Breaths

If you’re angry, take deep, soothing breaths before reacting. Doing this help keep your emotions under control and help you avoid road rage.

7. Think Positive Thoughts When You’re Behind The Wheels

It helps a lot to see the positive side in every situation, this also applies to being on the road. If someone changes lanes without any warning or zooms past you, instead of cursing and trying to get back at them, you could as well consider the fact that nothing terrible happened and move on.

8. Keep a level head and focus your attention on your driving

Doing this will keep your stress levels down and ensure you get to your destination safely.

What Fuels Road Rage?

We all know that road rage occurs when drivers are pushed past their limit but have you ever wondered what drives that rage? Although anger is a primary human emotion, rage on the other hand is when that anger is left unchecked which often leads to aggressive driving behaviors.

The Most Common Behaviors That Lead To Road Rage

Driving when you’re upset is a terrible idea, but often, that anger can be triggered when you’re behind the wheels. Below are some of the most irritable driving habits that lead to road rage.

• Irresponsible drivers who step on the brakes unnecessarily
• Drivers who merge without indicating
• People who drive at snail’s speed and those who can’t seem to maintain their speed
• People who block the way of other drivers
• Those that don’t allow others to merge
• Drivers who switch lanes abruptly
• People who text while driving
• Tailgaters

Although it seems like the significant causes of aggressive driving come from inadequate driving standards, you should always remember that road rage is a choice. Remember to never let someone else’s behavior decide your actions or cause you to compromise your safety or that of others.

How To Know If You’re Likely To Be A Road Rager

There’s nothing wrong with being slightly upset or irritated when another driver suddenly steps on the brakes or cuts you off without warning. However, it’s essential to never let your emotions get out of control as things can get out of hand.

Below are a few indicators that you need to work on containing your temper, especially while you’re on the road

• Swearing at other drivers and complaining about their driving
• Sounding your horn excessively
• Making hand gestures at other drivers
• Driving too close to the car in front of you
• Weaving
• Blocking the path of other cars to stop them from changing lanes
• Accelerating and decelerating suddenly simply to send a message to other drivers
• Getting frustrated at the slightest hint of traffic

All of the above are signs that you are likely to have road rage. The first thing you have to do if you intend to deal with your road rage tendencies is to acknowledge these symptoms above. It’s essential to be honest with yourself to make any progress and avoid unfavorable driving practices.

Repercussions Of Road Rage

The repercussions of road rage are not to be taken lightly as they can follow you your entire life especially if your actions lead to an accident. The following are some of the consequences of road rage:

Accidents

Road rage is the number one cause of road accidents and although some of such accidents are often minor, the aftermath can be severe, especially if both the angry driver and their victim weren’t wearing seat belts.

Violence

When drivers are pushed to the edge, fists tend to fly. In some scenarios, some go as far as brandishing weapons which can lead to severe injuries or even death.

Legal implications

While displaying aggressive behavior on the road won’t necessarily lead to charges, if the situation escalates into causing another party harm or vehicular homicide, it will most certainly attract criminal ramifications.

Stress

Not surprisingly, road rage causes stress levels to build up which can be bad for the health. Besides this, it can also cause mental health complications and even lead to various cardiovascular diseases.

Common Forms Of Road Rage

Although cursing profusely because of someone’s poor driving skills might seem completely harmless, it’s quite the opposite and not all that different from tailgating and brake checking. The following are believed to be the most common forms of road rage according to the courteous driving survey carried out in the year 2021:

• Physically assaulting other motorists
• Getting out of a vehicle to confront another driver
• Tailgating in anger,
• Yelling profanities
• Following another driver in an attempt to spook them
• Cutting someone off intentionally
• Beeping the horn out of anger
• Making rude gestures.

According to data brought forward by the national highway traffic safety, only three percent of drivers who felt offended by the actions of other drivers report the incident to law officials, which is quite unfortunate.

What Is The Right Thing To Do When An Aggressive Driver confronts you?

If you happen to be a victim of aggressive driving, your priority is to protect yourself. Ensure to stay calm and keep your doors locked. Move out of the way of the raging driver if you can, especially if they’re trying to run you off the road.

If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, a great way to make the aggressive driver lose interest is by driving to the nearest police station. While it can be a real hassle to deal with road rage, the inability to control oneself behind the wheel often leads to fatal crashes.

Final Words

Avoid driving above the speed limit and always adhere to traffic regulations to avoid aggressive driving incidents because you never know if the person behind or in front of you has underlying anger issues and is just waiting to throw a fit.