What is "Road Rage"?

[Danney Ball]

Road Rage

The Automobile Association
Group Public Policy Road Safety Unit
Matthew Joint, MSc, BSc, MCIT
Head of Behavioral Analysis
March, 1995

What is "Road Rage"?

"Road Rage" is a term that is believed to have originated in the United States. In its broadest sense it can refer to any display of aggression by a driver. However, the term is often used to refer to the more extreme acts of aggression, such as a physical assault, that occur as a direct result of a disagreement between drivers.

The response to a stressful situation may often be anger. When we are confronted by a frustrating situation we often resort to aggression. This is often no more than verbal abuse. However, there are circumstances in which we may resort to physical violence. In the late 1980s, drivers in the United States, apparently frustrated by increasing congestion, began fighting and shooting each other on a regular basis, victims of what the popular press termed "road rage." There is nothing to suggest that road rage is distinct from any other form of anger. But for many of us driving has become one of the most frustrating activities we are regularly engaged in. In the United States, unverified figures of up to 1,200 road rage-related deaths a year have been reported. There is very little data available on the extent of the problem in the United Kingdom, although there have been increasing numbers of reports of violent disagreements between motorists over the last year.

In order to quantify the extent of the road rage problem, the Automobile Association commissioned a survey of 526 motorists. The survey, carried out in January, 1995, found that almost 90 percent of motorists have experienced "road rage" incidents during the last 12 months. Sixty percent admitted to losing their tempers behind the wheel.

Aggressive tailgating (62 percent) was the most common form of "road rage," followed by headlight flashing (59 percent), obscene gestures (48 percent), deliberately obstructing other vehicles (21 percent) and verbal abuse (16 percent). One percent of drivers claim to have been physically assaulted by other motorists.

Although 62 percent of drivers were victimized by aggressive tailgaters, only 6 percent admitted to doing it themselves. Gender differences were not as great as expected; 54 percent of women admitted to aggressive driving behavior, compared with 64 percent of men.

What Causes "Road Rage"?

In some cases it appears that incidents of road rage are caused by simple misunderstandings between drivers. A driver may make a momentary error of judgment but the perception of another is that he is driving aggressively.

It is likely that the cause of the road rage extends beyond the immediate incident. An individual may have had a bad day at work or troubles at home. Often it may be difficult to tackle the cause of the frustration. It may therefore lie dormant, indeed the driver may not even identify feelings of frustration. However, failure to indicate or a poor maneuver by another driver may be enough to trigger a release of the pent-up frustration which is directed towards the offending driver. In addition, there are a number of factors that explain why driving, in particular, should cause this frustration to manifest. Studies of animal behavior have shown how rats and various primates can respond aggressively in response to overcrowding. It is reasonable to suggest that humans respond in a comparable manner.

Human beings are territorial. As individuals we have a personal space, or territory, which evolved essentially as a defense mechanism -- anyone who invades this territory is potentially an aggressor and the time it takes the aggressor to cross this territory enables the defender to prepare to fend off or avoid the attack. This may extend no further than a matter of a few feet or less. We may be prepared to reduce the size of this territory according to the available space (e.g. on a crowded subway train) but this can cause tension. In most cases if the territory is "invaded," if someone stands too close, our social education tends to result in defensive body language rather than physical aggression.

The car is an extension of this territory. Indeed, the territory extends for some distance beyond the vehicle, again providing room for the defender to prepare to fend off or avoid the attack. If a vehicle threatens this territory by cutting in, for example, the driver will probably carry out a defensive maneuver. This may be backed up by an attempt to re-establish territory -- in spite of the rationalizations we used to account for our behavior, flashing headlights or a blast of the horn are, perhaps, most commonly used for this purpose. However, this may not always succeed in communicating the full depth of our feelings. As it is usually difficult to talk or even shout to the offending driver, other non-verbal communication (offensive gesticulations) may be employed. Confrontations of this nature are not uncommon and are usually defused as the vehicles move away from each other.

In some circumstances, the defending driver may wish to go one step further and assert his dominance. Many drivers admit to having chased after a driver to "teach him a lesson," often pressing him by moving to within inches of his rear bumper. This is comparable to the manner in which a defending animal will chase an attacker out of its territory. However, the result of such behavior in drivers is, of course, potentially fatal.

Some of the worst cases of road rage have occurred where the opportunity for the vehicles to separate and go their own ways does not present itself. Gesticulations and aggressive maneuvers have been exchanged in a rapidly degenerating discourse. Worked up into a rage, one or both drivers have then got out of their vehicles and physically attacked their adversary and/or his vehicle.

Increasing levels of congestion on the roads have undoubtedly played a role in raising tempers among drivers and may partly explain why our survey revealed that the majority of motorists feel that the behavior of drivers has changed for the worst in recent years.

Conflicts between drivers have also arisen because of unclear road priorities -- where drivers have disagreed as to who has right of way, for example. In many cases the road priorities were determined at a time when the level of congestion and speed of traffic were considerably less than today.

Other drivers' failure to adhere to the rules of the road and ignoring signs, e.g., where lanes merge or a lane is closed and drivers merge into the open lane at the last possible opportunity, is a commonly quoted cause of irritation among drivers. Improved means of law enforcement, perhaps with the aid of roadside cameras, may reduce such transgressions.

Some psychologists have suggested that certain drivers are more susceptible to losing their tempers behind the wheel than others. The AA Foundation for Road Safety Research carried out a major study 1 designed to explore some of the lifestyle factors associated with drivers previously identified as "safe" or "unsafe" drivers. Although the AA Foundation study looked specifically at young male drivers, it should be remembered that our recent survey found few age or gender differences in the prevalence of road rage.

The AA Foundation study revealed that one of the main factors influencing driver behavior was mood. A greater number of unsafe drivers were affected by mood to a much larger extent than the safe drivers. It was suggested that this may be due to the fact that, for many of the unsafe drivers, the act of car driving is regarded as an expressive, rather than practical, activity. Being in a bad mood appears to have an adverse effect on driving behavior and this effect appears to be most pronounced among unsafe drivers.

The AA Foundation study also found that unsafe drivers were more likely to be affected by the actions of other road users. Unsafe drivers were more likely to get wound up about what they see as inappropriate or "stupid" actions of other road users. The bad moods of the driver were more likely to be exacerbated by other driver actions.

This evidence supports the view that some drivers are more likely to succumb to road rage. However, we should not conclude that this is a predisposition that cannot be altered. Drivers can adopt simple strategies that keep frustration, anger, and rage in check.

How to Avoid Succumbing to Road Rage

Be aware of the precursors. Follow our general recommendations for avoiding stress and fatigue (see below). In particular, try to disassociate yourself from problems that have no bearing on the journey.

Never assume that an apparently aggressive act was intended as such. We all make mistakes. So don't bite back. If we take an example from studies of animal behavior in the wild, the dominant animal in a group will rarely get involved in petty fights and disagreements. Although confident in his ability to defeat any opponent, there is always the risk of injury.

Finally, draw reassurance from the fact that if you feel that someone is driving like an idiot, everyone else does also.

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

Our survey information indicates that the great majority of people (96 percent) have not found that the road rage incidents have affected their confidence to drive. However, women and motorists aged 55-64 were the groups most likely to say that the last incident had affected their confidence. It must be stressed that the chances of any driver becoming the victim of a violent road rage attack are very small. The risks of driving alone can be exaggerated -- be sensible about your safety but don't be afraid to drive on your own. However, if you feel threatened by another motorist, the following gives advice on how to defuse the situation or protect yourself:

¥ If you're being hassled by another driver, try not to react. Avoid making eye contact, as this is often seen as confrontational. Don't be tempted to accelerate, brake, or swerve suddenly; again, this may be seen as confrontational and increases your chances of losing control of your vehicle.

¥ If a driver continues to hassle you or you think you are being followed, drive on to the nearest police station or busy place to get help.

¥ In town, lock the car doors and keep the windows and sunroof only partly open.

¥ When stopped in traffic, leave enough space to pull out from behind the car you are following.

¥ If someone tries to get into your car, attract attention by sounding your horn or a personal alarm.

¥ Do not be tempted to start a fight and do not be tempted to carry any sort of weapon. It may only provoke a potential assailant and could end up in his or her hands.

General Advice for Reducing Stress and Fatigue on the Road

Before starting a journey, make sure that you know how to get to your destination and, if possible, have an alternate route in mind or at least an atlas in the car. Think about the timing of the journey -- you wouldn't want to be traveling the M252 at 5:15 p.m. on a Friday.

Make sure your car is regularly serviced and carry out routine checks (tire pressure, oil, water, etc.) regularly. Carry spare items (bulbs, fan belt, emergency sign for the windshield, etc.). Also, make sure your windshield is clean, particularly before a long journey. Peering through a dirty windshield is a common source of stress and fatigue when driving. Also, have a window cloth, de-icer, and sunglasses accessible.

Make sure that you are comfortable before starting the journey. Adjust your seat and mirrors. You should also ensure that your seat belt and head restraint are correctly positioned, if they are adjustible.

Too often we have unreasonable expectations of journey times. Take journeys in easy stages and never remain behind the wheel of a car for more than three hours without a break. Don't try to cover more than 300 miles a day and, on a long trip, be careful on the the second day of driving -- this is when you tend to be most vulnerable to fatigue.

When you take a break, make sure that you get out of the car and stretch your legs. Eat a light snack but avoid heavy meals, particularly at lunchtime. Try to avoid eating in noisy, crowded places.

The likelihood of getting stressed while driving is largely dependent on your attitude of mind before you even turn the key in the ignition. Wind down before you crank up. Try to take one or two minutes to concentrate your mind on the task at hand and try to forget about other problems when driving.

Anticipate situations that are likely to wind you up and be tolerant of other road users' errors. If you find yourself in congestion, try to accept that there is probably very little that you could have done or can do to prevent the delay.

Take remedial action before stress and fatigue get the better of you. Learn to spot the warning signs and develop positive coping strategies, such as listening to the radio or a cassette (many people listen to novels or humorous tapes in jams).

Wind down the windows to increase ventilation and consciously breathe in the air slowly. Also, don't grip the steering wheel too hard as this will tense arm and neck muscles, leading to fatigue symptoms such as headaches.

If your mind is full of images of recent events or you are replaying conversations repeatedly in your mind, make a conscious effort to slow them down until they become softer and more distant.

The Survey in Detail

The AA surveyed 526 drivers to establish the extent to which British motorists had experienced and perpetrated particular types of aggression when driving.

MAIN FINDINGS

Opinion of Motorist Behavior

"Overall, how do you feel the behavior of motorists has changed in recent years?"

Rating	All Motorists (%)
Better	2
Worse	62
No real change	34
Don't know	1

The majority of motorists feel that the behavior of drivers has changed for the worse in recent years. Motorists aged between 35-54 were most likely to feel this way (73 percent), compared with those aged over 55 (62 percent) and those aged under 35 (49 percent).

Receipt of Particular Types of Aggressive Behavior

Motorists were then asked which of a list of particular types of behavior they had experienced from other motorists in the last 12 months.

Behavior	All Motorists (%)
Aggressive tailgating (driving very close behind)	62
Had lights flashed at me when other motorist annoyed	59
Received aggressive or rude gestures	48
Been deliberately obstructed or prevented from maneuvering my vehicle	21
Received verbal abuse	16
Being physically assaulted	1
None of these	12

Almost nine in 10 (88 percent) of all respondents had experienced at least one of the types of behavior listed above in the last 12 months. Motorists aged over 55 were less likely to have done so (79 percent).

The majority of motorists had been tailgated (62 percent) and had lights flashed at them by other motorists (59 percent), and about half (48 percent) had received aggressive or rude gestures. One in five had been deliberately obstructed, and fewer had received verbal abuse (16 percent) or been physically assaulted by other motorists (one percent).

Men were more likely than women to have received aggressive or rude gestures (52 percent and 42 percent, respectively), verbal abuse (19 percent and 10 percent, respectively), and are more likely to have been deliberately obstructed (24 percent and 17 percent, respectively).

Types of Aggressive Behavior Displayed Towards Other Motorists

All respondents were then asked which types of behavior they had done to other motorists.

Behavior	All Motorists (%)
Flashed lights at them when annoyed with other motorists	45
Given aggressive or rude gestures	22
Given verbal abuse	12
Aggressive tailgating (driving up very close behind)	6
Deliberately obstructed or prevented from maneuvering my vehicle	5
Physically assaulted another motorist *	*Only one positive response
None of these	40

Sixty percent of all respondents admitted to doing one or more of the above to other motorists. It is debatable how willing people would be to admitting having done some of the more serious things described.

Men were more likely than women to have done any of the things listed (64 percent and 54 percent, respectively).

Similarly, motorists aged under 35 were most likely to admit having done any of the things listed (76 percent) than were those aged 35-54 years old (67 percent) or those aged over 55 (34 percent).

Almost half (45 percent) of all motorists claimed to have, within the last 12 months, flashed their lights at another motorists when they were annoyed with them. One in five (22 percent) have given aggressive or rude gestures, and one in 10 (12 percent) have given other motorists verbal abuse. Around one in 20 admits to having tailgated another driver (6 percent) or deliberately obstructed another car (5 percent). One respondent claimed to have physically assaulted another driver in the previous 12 months.

Types of Road on Which the Last Incident Was Experienced

All respondents who had experienced an aggressive incident were asked on what type of road the last incident occurred.

Type of Road	All motorists (%)
Main road	46
Motorway (divided highway)	26
Minor road	23
In a car park (parking lot)	4
Other	2

Almost half (46 percent) last experienced one of these incidents on a main road. About a quarter mentioned a motorway (or divided highway) (26 percent) and a similar proportion said a minor road. One in 20 (4 percent) incidents occurred in a car park (parking lot).

Men were more likely to have experienced an incident on a motorway than were women (30 percent and 18 percent, respectively). Similarly, respondents aged over 55 were more likely to mention a motorway (34 percent) than those aged 35-55 (23 percent) or those aged under 35 years old (24 percent).

Time of Day at which the Last Incident Was Experienced

All those who had been a victim of aggressive behavior were asked whether it occurred after dark or during the day.

The majority (70 percent) said the last incident occurred during the day, and 30 percent said after dark. Younger motorists, those aged under 35, were more likely to say after dark (44 percent) than were 35-54 year-old drivers (28 percent) or motorists aged over 55 (15 percent).

Extent to which Aggressive Behavior Affected Your Confidence when Driving

All respondents having experienced any road rage incident were asked whether it affected their confidence while driving.

Confidence	All motorists (%)
Much less confident	1
A little less confident	3
Confidence not affected	96

Clearly, for the great majority of people (96 percent), these incidents do not affect their confidence when driving. However, women (8 percent) and motorists aged 55-64 (9 percent) were the groups most likely to say that the last incident had affected their confidence when driving.

As part of a survey of 500 parents who drive, a similar question (on the types of aggressive behavior shown to other motorists) was used in July of 1996, with the following results:

5

Aggressive tailgating	5
Flashing headlights	36
Aggressive or rude gestures	28
Verbal abuse	32
Pushed/hit another motorist	<1
Aggressive use of horn	40
None of these	27

1 "'Safe' and 'Unsafe': A comparative study of younger male drivers" by G. Rolls and R. Ingham, Department of Psychology, University of Southampton. AA Foundation for Road Safety Research, 1992

2 A major highway in London, England.

3 The AAA advises no more than 500 miles.