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Why it is important to define road rage

By: Drivers.com staff

Date: Wednesday, 13. September 2006

Is road rage a rare occurrence in which drivers freak out completely and engage in personal violence, or is it, as road rage psychologist and media personality Arnold Nerenberg maintains, an epidemic with as many as two billion occurrences per year in North America alone?

Where the media are concerned, "road rage" is a catchy expression that will pull in viewers or readers. "Aggressive driving," or "bad driving" won't do as much for ratings as "road rage," particularly in the more tabloid types of media in which just about everything reported needs to be "stunning," astonishing," "terrifying," or something equally dramatic in order to make it to the final edit.

In the traffic safety world, the definition can be a problem because, as Australian researcher Barry Elliott points out in a paper published on the Drivers.com site, it can play a huge role in determining how scarce resources will be used. Road rage as a criminal behavior is very different from the countless incidents of aggressive driving and just plain bad driving that individuals have to deal with every day in traffic.

In April 1999, a focus group of people concerned about road rage and aggressive driving met at the Toronto Region Headquarters of the Ontario Provincial Police, in Canada. The 20 or so individuals present were from diverse backgrounds that included police, insurance, driver training, and the media. The goal was to define road rage, its symptoms, countermeasures, and what to do when it happens.

The definitions were wide ranging. "Road rage tends to happen when drivers are running out of time and running out of options", pointed out OPP sergeant Peggy Gamble. She based this observation on her experiences patrolling the very busy highways around Toronto, particularly the infamous Highway 401 "war zone", which has the dubious distinction of competing with Los Angeles' Santa Monica freeway for the title of the busiest roadway in North America.

Automotive writer Julie Wilkinson sees it as a problem of sharing--conflict between the law abiding road user and the pushy types who cut in and out and try to beat the traffic. Someone else pointed out that the victims of road rage are often the pushy types, who just don't know how to handle the etiquette of traffic and get into trouble when someone they offend loses control.

Gary Wood, president of the National Public Safety Learning Centre, which organized the focus group, asked whether road rage should be defined simply as "an uncontrolled display of anger by the operator of a motor vehicle," or perhaps extended to include "as a result of another drivers action (or inaction)." Maybe other clauses should be added, he suggested, such as "resulting in actions that are dangerous or cause injury to persons or property.

Whatever the definition, he added, it will be crucial to taking the next steps towards calming things down on the roadway. Road rage as criminal behavior, pointed out Human Factors researcher Leo Tasca, does not have its origins in traffic. It takes its place with all the other rages ("Internet rage," "urban rage," "sidewalk rage") as a personality problem with social and legal implications.

The broader definition--the one that includes retaliation for aggressive lane changing, horn blowing, and rude gestures--calls for a more driving-related approach. In the area of enforcement it could mean laws and campaigns against specific driving actions. It would also point towards improved driver training, public service messages about driving etiquette and driving style, and the general promotion of traffic safety.

* * * Read more articles about road rage and aggressive driving.

Further comments to this article have been disabled.


All Comments (42)

Showing 1 - 42 comments

Haley,

Road rage is crazy.....

Paul,

I was driving my elderly mother home from shopping this evening and coming to a junction i hear a ambulance siren. I Can't see it but there is traffic all around and i slowly pull away from the junction looking to see where the sound is coming from . Behind me a driver starts aggresively blowing his horn at me then overtakes me aggresively i inturn blow my horn back at him and gesture to him as he passes.
I was so angry but should i have taken his registration number and reported him to the police

misty,

i was sideswiped by a driver in an 18 wheeler while in the exit lane, i was still on the freeway.my children & i am aching with so much pain. who is at fault

Treacher,

Slow drivers in the fast (left) lane are legal if they are going the speed limit. All you other speeders need to take a hard look at your own driving habits. I'll see you when you crack up or are in my driving class. To the slow drivers. For your safety, even if your are going the speed limit move to a slower lane when the speeders are passing on the right or tailgating. Don't worry, they will eventually get theirs down the road.

Foolbegone,

Cutting me off when I am in the right-hand lane traveling just above the posted limit, and there is -- nobody -- behind me... makes me angry. That means you, 4-door compact car in Austin, Texas, license plate Texas KWT-016.

Nanson Hwa,

"A little impatience can ruin big plans"...safety is more important than speed.

bones,

What makes a person "rage"? I believe it is because they been cut off or done wrong by some inconsiderate ahole. I dont wake up angry, I am brought there by inconsiderate people who use the shoulder to get ahead, cut people off, bypass long lines of cars and dart in front. I want to kill them because their inconsiderate, not because the drive fast or slow.
If there is a line at the grocery store, would you jump in front? If so would you expect retaliation?
Armed & Dangerous in DC
Bones

Heidi,

I agree with evan I think people who go slow in the left lane suck.

Abercrombie_blonde,

road rage is pretty, um dangerous and like, well its dumb

Angie,

Oh goodness, I am so surprised at some of these comments. Firstly, road rage is inexcusable regardless of what other drivers are doing. Evan, I agree with you, the majority of these people must be immature brats. If people are driving slow, so what? Yeah, its annoying, but maybe there's something wrong with their car, their cautious about something ahead, or heck, maybe they just got off a 12 hour night shift from the hospital, their patient just died and they're exhausted and are just trying to be extra careful. My point is you never know what people are going through. This is no excuse to speed, get angry or get even. I know this because I consider myself a "regular" drivers don't often get rage. Even if I'm faced with a slow driver, and yeah its annoying if someone cuts me off, but I let it slide. It's their problem, not mine. Now if they hit me, that might be a little different but I don't think I'd go through full on rage. Its called being classy. Being the bigger person.

With that said, let me tell you a little tale that might have happened, ohh, maybe just a little over 1 hour or so. So I'm driving home from work and some lady behind me in a jeep or something is driving a little too close for comfort. I continue to go the speed limit because, honestly, I don't give a crap otherwise (plus I don't have the money for a speeding ticket). Anyway, we both turn into the next lane and she's still tailgating me and now I'm at the turn of the road. Are you still with me, people? Now the road we're turning on has two lanes, our turning lane runs into the right lane and the left lane has cars turning into it from the opposite way at a light. So I've slowed down in the turn and realize that a car that was supposed to turn into the left lane is driving a little to fast and looks like he's going to collide into me if I continue on with the turn. So I stop. Now to the lady behind me, it must look like I don't think I have right of way. So she starts beeping and making what I call, 'annoyed' 'angry' gestures. As I continue, she still does it. She was so pissed, the poor dear, it must've done wonders to her blood pressure. However, this was also my first incidence of my own 'road rage' and I feel horrible for it. Normally I would never even consider doing this, I'm usually the person with their head on their shoulders, trying to be the better person...but I fingered the lady non-chalantly and her face was priceless! But even though it was funny to she how surprised she looked, I worry that she may want to evoke some kind of revenge on me if she recognizes my vehicle on the road next time. She was definately someone I would not put it past.

So yes, people's "dumb" driving habits i.e. cutting people off, not signaling and turning into a lane, driving slow, may be the cause of driver rage. But keep in mind that sometimes that "dumb" driver stopped suddenly cause theirs a pediestrian crossing, another car you can't see might've stopped, or heck, if they hadn't maybe they might've, or were afraid of being hit by another vehicle. Sometimes "dumb" drivers aren't exactly "dumb" and sometimes "dumb" drivers are preoccupied (not that I'm excusing their behavior) or maybe, it is, cause dumb drivers are simply just dumb. But don't judge lest ye be judged. And although us drivers may be annoyed, when we become enraged (how silly does that sound) and act on it (like I did, with my finger gesture), that's just plain "dumb."

Red Tampon,

There are so many road ragers on the because the cops do nothing about it.

Fatman,

I just got rear-ended because some idiot decided to go 40 in a 25mph zone. Now I have to worry about that bill. I can barely pay my car and gas payments.

someone,

you all really need to stop talking about your own stupid arguments. this is a site about road raging, not tellin people that they need a life!!! GET WITH THE PROGRAM PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kim,

People just need to remember the very simple rule, "slower traffic keep right" Regardless if someone is speeding, if you remember that rule you will be OK. Because even if someone is going faster than you or the speed limit, you are now the slower traffic. Simple isn't it.

Eric,

Road rage stems from stupid driviers doing the wrong things (driving slow, no turn signals and cutting people off) and us regular drivers have to deal it, and it makes us rage.

Evan,

Me too on the first thing you said! And I do also think slow drivers in the left lane suck

Evan,

Michelle, I think some of the comments here come from adolescents - not mature enough to relate. I suspect many of the stupid comments come from 16 year olds. Give them a year or so ... or maybe 10 years, or maybe nto at all!!!

Michelle7,

WTH?!?!?! I thought this site was about road rage not immature arguments about something totally different and rude!! All of you need to grow up and find somewhere else to act stupid. Road rage is a serious problem.

ROADRAGE SUFFERER UK,

I AM FROM UK, I AM NOW 31 WITH A DRIVERS LICENSE HELD FOR 7 YEARS WHICH IS CLEAN AND HAS NO POINTS ON IT. (IN UK YOU GET GIVEN POINTS FOR SPEEDING 3 NO INSURANCE 6 NOT MOT 6)
I SUFFER ROAD RAGE.
NORMALLY IT IS DIRECTLY ASSCIOATED WITH STUPID DRIVERS OR INADEQUATE DRIVERS.
EXAMPLE: DRIVER IN FRONT, IN GOOD CONDITIONS DRIVING AT 15MPH IN 30MPH ZONE, THESE PEOPLE SLOW YOU DOWN, FORCE YOU TO OVERTAKE AND SPEED TO MAKE UP THE TIME YOU HAVE LOST. YES SMARTARSSES I ALWAYS ALLOW SUFFICIANT TIME FOR MY JOURNEYS. THIS THEN FORCES PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO BREAK THE LAW AND DRIVE AT 90MPH IN A 70MPH ZONE.
IT MAKES ME ANGRY WHEN YOU TAKE THE TIME TO OVERTAKE SAFELY NO RECKLESSLY AND THE IDIOT YOU OVERTAKE ACCELERATES
TO STOP YOU OVRTAKING OR STARTS TOOTING HIS CAR HORN OR FLASHING HIS FULL BEAM HEADLIGHTS.
PEOPLE DRIVING WHILST USING A MOBILE PHONE ANNOY ME, UNLESS THEY ARE USING HANDS FREE KITS THEY ARE NOT IN FULL CONTROL OF THEIR VECHILE AND IF A SITUATION AROSE, WOULDNT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THEIR CARS, THIS CAUSES ACCIDENTS. (IT IS ILLEGAL IN UK TO USE MOBILE WHILST DRIVING UNLESS IT IS ON HANDS FREE)

A HUNDRED OTHER THINGS ANNOY ME AS A DRIVER.
WILST MOST SITUATIONS I FIND MYSELF GESTURING AT THE OTHER DRIVER, WHEN I HAVE MY CHILD IN MY VECHILE I COMPLETELY LOSE IT, NORMALLY THEY FIRSTLY ANTAGONISE ME, THEN WHEN THEY GIVE IT THE BIGGUN (GIVE IT LARGE OR MOUTH OFF) I FIND I LOSE CONTROL OF MY EYES (THEY DART LEFT TO RIGHT AND TWITCH) AND MY ACTIONS.
NORMALLY BY THIS POINT I HAVE GOT MY VECHILE IN FRONT OF THEIRS, IF THEY CONTINUE TO LARGE IT I STOP MY VECHILE AND GET OUT.
I THEN PROCEED TO EXPLAIN TO THE OTHER DRIVER THAT THEY HAVE MADE ME ANGRY AND HOW AND WHY THEY HAVE.
IF THEY THEN DECIDE TO GET VOILENT I RESPOND WITH 100% FORCE

I THINK THE UNDERLYING REASONS FOR MY ANGER??

DRIVERS HAVING NO CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER DRIVERS.

I AM JUST AN AVERAGE ENGLISHMAN.

NOT LIKE HUGH GRANT OR SOMEBODY FALSE
BUT A RED BLOODED ENGLISHMAN

I DONT LOOK FOR TROUBLE BUT I WILL NOT BACK DOWN FROM IT, NOT WHEN I HAVE RIGHTEOUSNESS ON MY SIDE.

IM NOT SAYING A HAVE KICKED THE SH1T OUT OF EVERYBODY, SOMEONE BEAT THE SH!T OUT OF ME WITH A WOODEN COSH.

I FIND WOMEN TEND TO BE MORE VERBALLY ABUSIVE WITH FINGER GESTURES ETC
AND THE MEN TEND TO BE LESS VOCAL AND MORE PHSYICAL.

I TEND TO LEAVE IT WHEN ITS A FEMALE DRIVER AS I AM NOT A THUG.

ALL I CAN SAY IS, ROADRAGE CAN MAKE A MINOR SITUATION INTO A MAJOR ORDEAL
SO LETS ALL TRY AND BE MORE COURTEUS ON THE ROAD.

IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA KNWON FOR PEOPLE WITH ROAD RAGE, BUY A VOLVO AS THEY ARE BUILT LIKE TANKS, AND MOST PEOPLE GET OUT OF THEIR WAY PRETTY SHARPISH!

SHATOOONIKKAH STOP PLAYING WITH YOUR PUPPYS C0CK

NIKKI GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PAPER, I THINK THAT ROAD RAGE IS FAR MORE PREDOMINTATE IN THE SUMMER WEATHER, WHERE TEMPERTURES AND TEMPERS ARE FLARING!

Shatooonikkah,

I'll smack all you all up in the collard greens.

Erikkah,

Word up, my kin folk, we grown folk who be edumated.

Shineeequa,

Hi Jamal, glad to hear you are getting edumacated. I have a Bruick too it be gold. Also has dubs on it, even though the car is a 1978.

Beth,

One of the main reasons of traffic and road rage would be people like Brian who thinks everyone is in a hurry, when in fact he is probably the guy in the left lane, with his mouth hanging open, going slow and holding up traffic and making everyone have to pass him on the right.

Sharleen,

You know, I bookmarked this site ages ago and just read all the comments after my own from Oct. of 06. I agree with you, Brian, that this is some kind of pandemic. There ought to be a study of how traffic affects stress levels over time. I don't act out on the road, but I definitely do when I leave the road, so I know it affects me. There are just so many variables, though, for research like that that it'd be difficult to say how someone should begin.

Brian,

There seems to be an epidemic of impatient drivers everywhere these days, and it's not just in big cities or busy freeways. I think it's going to get worse. A lot of people must have some kind of a deathwish.

kayla,

why?
why? do people want to hurt other people an dtheir families?

Michelle,

I think people with road rage should just stay off the road, dont hurt someone just because you are mad.

Debbie,

My nephew was killed in a road rage accident just 3 days ago. The family doesn't know who was at fault because the police investigation isn't complete. I just know our family is devasted by a senseless act. In search of answers, I looked up the other driver's criminal record and he has multiple driver license suspensions, driving without insurance or license, possesion of drugs, and DUI and extreme DUI. No matter who was at fault, I feel that our justice system failed by not removing this driver from the streets before this tragedy occured. The other driver was FINALLY arrested at the scene for driving on a suspended license.

Moxie,

Hey Abraham, looks like you want someone to do your paper for you so you don't have to think. For $500 I'll do it.

and by the way, I got a little road rage myself the other day. I was in an intersection waiting to make a left turn and the no-brain driver behind me laid on the horn. I guess he wasn't smart enough to look past me and see the pedestrian crossing - or maybe he wanted me to run over her.

vylet,

It's sad to hear about the family and friends that people have lost due to road rage or falling asleep or any other excuse people want to give. I find it really sad how easy it is for some people to obtain a license to drive and also to keep a license even after losing it due to dui's or other illegal reason.
Yet it took over a year to get my license back due to a medical problem. I don't drink, and I don't freak out if some old lady drives 5 miles an hour in front of me. Tell me how thats fair? This system is messed up.

tonique,

sorry to hear about your daughter Toni, it makes no sense to do these things that crazy people do. My boy friend was coming home from work one morning it was 2:20am and he had an hour drive from work and he was very tired he was coming down the road going 68 mph on a 60 mile zone he let the wheel go there was an on coming car and he was not watching the road he was falling asleep. BOOOMMM he was three seconds away from dying hit some trees and wrecked his car....

AS:he lived and so did the oncoming police office.A ticket for $500.00 he had to pay and 3 points on his license. That DANGEROUS isn't it......

Chris,

Toni Sorry to hear about your daughter. My mom was killed in a car accident almost 4 years ago, but it didn't have anything do with road rage. The other person fell asleep.

Road Rage is a big problem all over. Today I was just driving down a major throughofare, and stopped at a yield to let traffic pass.

This guy in some Honda got mad, passed me then when I was in the far right lane he all of the sudden just started driving right for my driver's side of my car.

He chased me for a good ten minutes. I would not look at him for fear he had a gun. Then once he stopped chasing me I was behind him in traffic and he just decided to slam his brakes on at 50 mph!

I was able to stop but the Pontiac Torrent behind me, almost plowed into my back end all because if some irresponsible road rager.

Sorry it just gets to me. That and people that fall asleep at the wheel.

There I've said my piece.

Have a good day!

Chris

kim,

Hey toni, you are right, this peice of $--T has to stop.

0009,

Hi,
I am writing a research paper on why do people road rage? If I can please get opinion of those who have ever road rage or road rage repeatively?
Thank you for your paritcipation.

Franky,

As long as you don't kill anyone then road rage isn't that bad

Charles,

Sorry to hear that Toni.

Louigi,

Chris doesn't seem very sympathetic but the problem is very real when someone you know gets hurt

Toni,

A 51 year old Caucasian woman from san Antonio acted with "Road Rage" - because she wanted by...The driver of whom by daughter was a passenger, didn't move over fast enough for this crazed woman to pass. When she finally was able to let this lunatic by - this woman in her own admission, said that she was angry and got in front of them and hit her breaks at 85 miles an hour. The driver of the vehicle that my daughter was in, lost control of the vehicle. Their car went into on coming traffic on a major highway - they were instantly killed.
My beautiful 23 year old daughter is gone - her 20 year old friend is gone - both dead just like that because some old woman had something to prove! This piece of $--T moves on with her lousy life and leaves me and my family to deal with our GRIEF for the REST of our lives!
This MADNESS has to STOP!
Sincerely ~ A grieving mother.

Ben,

Any time there is stress you are going to get more anger and frustration and that is no different in traffic. A lot of the road rage is people wanting to get someplace and they are not making good time. sometimes, they are ridiculous.

Niki,

I am doing a research paper on road rage and would like to hear opinions about the holiday season. Do you think there are higher numbers of road rage incidents during the holiday season of november to december?

Sharleen,

Hi, I was wondering if anyone else gets this when they get home after being in traffic for very long periods of time... say, two or three hours. I suppress anger and resentment and when I get to my destination, I snap at the slightest thing. It's driving a huge wedge between my boyfriend and I. My behavior when I go to see him after sitting in traffic is so obnoxious and so terrible, he told me to leave. I am the kind of person who has very low blood pressure... but I am type 2 Diabetic. Traffic is like a tripwire for me. After leaving it, I become a monster. I just need to be left alone to recover from the stress. Does this road rage happen to anyone else when they actually leave the road/reach their destination? Any insight at all would help me.

jessica flowers,

Road Rage can cause deaths


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