ROAD RAGE

AGGRESSIVE
DRIVING ON THE
ROAD
 AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

More drivers have started acting out their

anger when they get behind the wheel.
Cut off
Tailgated
Slowed down by a vehicle in front of them.
Angry drivers can commit incredible acts of
violence.
Assault and murder
 AGGRESSIVE DRIVING
STATISTICS

AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety studied:

More than 10,000 incidents of violent
aggressive driving committed between 1990
and 1996.
It found that at least 218 people were killed.
Another 12,610 angry drivers got injured.
 What is ROAD RAGE?

No national definition for the term road

rage
It is commonly defined as a societal
condition where motorist lose their temper in
reaction to a traffic disturbance.
In most cases, the traffic situations
encountered are typical of today's normal
driving conditions in higher traffic volumes.
 Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving refers to an angry

motorist attempting to intentionally injury
or kill another driver because of a traffic
dispute.
Aggressive drivers react negatively and use
their vehicles to retaliate by making sudden,
threatening maneuvers.
This makes Road Rage a serious issue of
traffic safety for yourself and others.
 What Causes Aggressive
Driving Behaviors?

Aggressive driving behaviors are triggered

by a variety of stimuli.
Provoked by the actions of another driver.
Set off by road congestion.
Most are caused by the drivers own moods
and reactions when they get behind the
wheel.
 Stated Reasons for Violent
Traffic Disputes

Arguments over parking Overuse of the horn.

spaces. Failure to use turn
Cutting another motorist signals.
off or refusing to allow
passing.
Minor traffic crashes.
Obscene gestures.
Slow driving.
Loud music.
 Violent Traffic Disputes

Violent traffic disputes are rarely the

results of a single incident, but rather are
the cumulative result of a series of
stressors.
Traffic incident that turns violent is often
the last straw
 Aggressive Driver Profile

Persons who exhibit aggressive behaviors cross

all ages, race, socioeconomic and gender lines.
Even people who are usually mild-mannered
can blow their top behind the wheel.
People who are characteristically cynics, rude,
angry or aggressive are pone to get angry more
often.
Those people are raging at home, at work, and
on the road.
 Aggressive Driver Profile

Majority of perpetrators:
Males between the ages of 18 and 26.
Hundreds of reported cases were 26 to 50
years old.
In 86 cases the driver was between 50 and
75 years old.
 Aggressive Driver Profile

No one profile for aggressive drivers.

Most are relatively young, poorly educated
males with criminal records, histories of
violence, and drug or alcohol problems.
Many have recently suffered an emotional or
professional setback.
Hundreds of others are educated men and
women with no such histories.
 Aggressive Driver Profile

While most of the drivers are male:

Approximately 4% were female.
Women used their vehicle as a weapon in
285 cases.
In 31 known cases, women attacked police
officers, usually while the officer was
attempting to issue a traffic citation.
Common Motorist Irritants

Tailgating to pressure a driver to go faster

or get out of the way.
Flashing lights in order to signal drivers to
move to another lane.
Obscene gesturing.
Changing lanes without signaling.
Blasting the horn.
Common Motorist Irritants

Frequently changing lanes by weaving back and

forth.
Racing to beat a yellow light thats about to turn
red.
Traveling in the passing or left lane at a slower
speed, making it impossible of others to pass.
Driving with high beams on behind another
vehicle or toward on coming traffic.
Common Motorist Irritants

Cutting drivers off.

Slowing down after passing someone.
Not making a right turn in the right-hand
turn lane.
Not reacting quickly after the light turns
green.
How Can Motorist Protect
Themselves?

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE the other

drivers CAPACITY for MAYHAM.

BE PATIENT and
KEEP your COOL
in traffic.
 Practice Basic
Traffic Courtesy

Do not make obscene If you are not disabled,

gestures dont park in a disabled
Use your horn sparingly space
Dont block passing lane Do not allow your door to
Dont switch lanes hit the car parked next to
without signaling you
Avoid blocking the right- Do not tailgate
hand turn lane If you travel slowly, pull
Do not take more than over & allow traffic to
one parking space pass
 Practice Basic
Traffic Courtesy

Avoid unnecessary use of high beams

headlights
Dont let the car (cellular) phone distract
you
Dont stop in the road to talk with a
pedestrian or other driver
Dont inflict loud music on neighboring
cars
 Other Useful Attitudes

Assume other drivers mistakes are not

personal
Be polite and courteous, even if the other
driver isnt
Avoid all conflict if possible. If another
driver challenges you, take a deep breath
and get out of the way
 Reduce Your Stress

Allow plenty of time for the trip.

Listen to smoothing music.
Improve the comfort in your vehicle.
Understand that you cant control the
traffic, only your reaction to it.
 Enraged Road Warriors

Many otherwise peaceful motorist become

enraged road warriors when they get
behind the wheel. If youre one of them,
be advised that:
a) cars are not bullet proof;
b) a truly aggressive driver will follow you
home; and
c) youve got to get out of the car eventually.
 FINALLY

If you are tempted to participate in a

driving duel, ask yourself:
Is it worth being paralyzed or killed?
Is it worth a jail sentence?

An impulsive action could ruin the

rest of your life.