With more and more people in the world, our roads are becoming increasingly crowded.

Sat behind the steering wheel inside our cars, it’s easy to feel isolated from the world and forget that there are other people with different priorities. Because of this, we are often far less polite to one another while driving than we would be if we met in person and had to face each other on a much more personal level.

Additionally, when we’re all frustrated with the traffic conditions, sometimes people make mistakes which result in impolite or irrational driving manoeuvres.  This, in turn, often leads to anger from other frustrated drivers, resulting in a cascade of hostility and ultimately road rage, which can pose a significant threat to health and safety for everyone on the road.

Factors Contributing To Road Rage

• Traffic delays
  Heavy traffic, sitting at traffic lights, looking for a parking space or even waiting for passengers can increase a driver’s anger level.
• Running late
  Running late for a meeting or appointment can cause drivers to be impatient.
• Anonymity
  If drivers feel that they probably won’t see other drivers again, they may feel more comfortable engaging in risky driving behaviours like tailgating, cutting people up, excessive beeping of the horn or making rude gestures.
• Disregard for others and the law
  Some drivers may think the rules don’t apply to them.
• Habitual or learned behavior
  For some drivers, aggressive driving may be the norm.

Most Common Forms Of Road Rage

• Tailgating
• Yelling
• Beeping the horn in anger
• Making angry gestures
• Trying to block another vehicle from changing lanes
• Cutting up another vehicle on purpose
• Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver
• Bumping into or ramming another vehicle on purpose

TIPS TO AVOID A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT