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Nearly 80 percent of drivers admitted to anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Wilmington-based AAA Mid-Atlantic.
The findings suggest that approximately eight million U.S. drivers engaged in extreme examples of road rage, including purposefully ramming another vehicle or getting out of the car to confront another driver.
Delaware, law enforcement agencies have reported some instances of extreme behavior in the past several months, making road rage another headache and even hazard for businesses with drivers on the road.
“Inconsiderate driving, bad traffic and the daily stresses of life can transform minor frustrations into dangerous road rage,” said Jim Lardear, director of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly.”
According to AAA research, a significant number of U.S. drivers reported engaging in angry and aggressive behaviors over the past year, according to study estimates:
- Purposefully tailgating: 51 percent (104 million drivers)
- Yelling at another driver: 47 percent (95 million drivers)
- Honking to show annoyance or anger: 45 percent (91 million drivers)
- Making angry gestures: 33 percent (67 million drivers)
- Trying to block another vehicle from changing lanes: 24 percent (49 million drivers)
- Cutting off another vehicle on purpose: 12 percent (24 million drivers)
- Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver: 4 percent (7.6 million drivers)
- Bumping or ramming another vehicle on purpose: 3 percent (5.7 million drivers)
In Delaware:
- State Police report there were 62,807 aggressive driving related arrests in 2015. This is a 9.6 percent increase over 2014.
- Speeding is often one component of aggressive driving, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) defines as “committing a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property. Delaware State Police report that in 2015, the state reported 47,573-speed arrests made. That is an 11 percent increase over 2014.
Nearly 2 in 3 drivers believe that aggressive driving is a bigger problem today than three years ago, while nine out of ten believe aggressive drivers are a serious threat to their personal safety.
Aggressive driving and road rage varied considerably among drivers:
- Male and younger drivers ages 19-39 were significantly more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors. For example, male drivers were more than three times as likely as female drivers to have gotten out of a vehicle to confront another driver or rammed another vehicle on purpose.
- Drivers who reported other unsafe behaviors behind the wheel, such as speeding and running red lights, also were more likely to show aggression. For example, drivers who reported speeding on a freeway in the past month were four times more likely to have cut off another vehicle on purpose.
“Don’t risk escalating a frustrating situation because you never know what the other driver might do,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research. “Maintain a cool head, and focus on reaching your destination safely.”
AAA offers these tips to help prevent road rage:
- Don’t Offend: You can protect yourself by avoiding behaviors that can enrage other drivers. Examples include cutting off other drivers, driving slowly in the passing lane, tailgating, not using turn signals, honking horn excessively, and gesturing – whether obscene or not.
- Do Not Respond: Refuse to be angry at an aggressive driver. Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, and maintain space around your vehicle. If you feel threatened, contact 9-1-1. Drive to a crowded public place such as a shopping center, hospital or police station.
- Adjust Your Attitude – By changing your approach to driving, you can make every trip more pleasant:
- For too many motorists, driving becomes a contest trying to get to their destination in the shortest possible time, so forget the need to “win the race.”
- Allow yourself more time for your trip so you don’t feel rushed.
- Practice relaxation tips such as deep breathing, or listen to soothing music or a book on tape. Also, don’t drive when extremely angry or overtired.
- If you think you have a problem, seek help; the techniques used in anger management courses can also help angry drivers.
- Alter Schedule to Avoid Traffic – If possible, adjust your work schedule, so you are not driving during peak commute hours. If this is not possible, then at least avoid driving during high traffic times on your days off.
- Be Tolerant and Forgiving: The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Assume that it’s not personal.
The research report is available on the AAA Foundation’s website and is part of the annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, which identifies attitudes and behaviors related to driver safety. The data was collected from a national survey of 2,705 licensed drivers ages 16 and older who reported driving in the past 30 days. The AAA Foundation issued its first Traffic Safety Culture Index in 2008.
