Why does driving make us so angry?

Ever had to deal with an irate motorist?

Where I live, the query ought to most likely be: “Ever come across a motorist who isn’t mouthing obscenities, flashing their lights, leaning on their horn and creating hand gestures that defy explanation to your kids sitting in the back?”

Or possibly that says much more about my driving than anything else.

Be that as it might, it appears road rage is endemic. A staggering 81% of drivers have been victims of road rage, according to a current survey by Carwow.co.uk.

It is your shout…

Shouting would appear to be the most frequent expression of anger. But aggressive or hazardous driving and verbal abuse are also typical occurrences.

And a single in 5 drivers has been threatened in a road rage incident.

But if road rage is so frequent, how come 51% of us claim we never give in to our aggression? Is it genuinely the case that only 30% of us permit anger to get the far better of us as soon as or twice a month, as the survey suggests – or are we also ashamed to ’fess up and admit we do our fair share of yelling and gesticulating?

Authority figures

The authorities have tried to crack down on road rage by introducing £100 penalties for poor driving habits, such as tailgating and lane hogging.

Really no matter whether this will have the preferred impact remains to be noticed. Following all, if you’re prone to tantrums that make your veins stand out on your temples, are you truly going to be capable to modify your behaviour at will?

The root of the difficulty is surely woven into how cars and driving have an effect on our psychology.

Most of us behave differently when we’re driving. We shed our inhibitions because we feel anonymous and immune.

In other words, we make rude gestures at other motorists behind the wheel that we would in no way dream of making face to face.

Fighting the fury

So while it is tempting to blame road rage on a certain group of problem drivers, we must all acknowledge our prospective to shed our rags and think about how we can avoid confrontation, anxiety and accidents.

Here’s a couple of suggestions:

• enable lots of time for your journey. If you are late, you are considerably far more most likely to be aggressive


• do not get behind the wheel if you are upset, angry or unwell (or hungover – a disastrous concept for all manner of factors, not least the reality that you are most likely still more than the limit)


• do not permit your self to be distracted by music, phones, maps or passengers


• do your very best not to antagonize other drivers. So, no lane hogging, inappropriate use of the horn, flashing your headlights, tailgating or cutting-up


• wave an apology if you make a mistake as the acknowledgement can defuse a potentially explosive predicament


• don’t competing with other drivers. It is a public highway, not a racetrack


• if someone else is driving aggressively, don’t make eye contact, shout or gesticulate.

What if you are the victim?

It’s almost certainly happened to all of us. You all of a sudden discover your self on the receiving end of a barrage of abuse and aggressive behaviour.

So what’s the best strategy?

Tailgaters can be especially intimidating, but you must never compromise your own safety. So, don’t speed up or brake suddenly.

Alternatively, attempt and find a protected way to let the tailgater pass. For instance, you may possibly drive twice round a roundabout.

If a driver is persistently aggressive, you may well want to head to a protected, public place and contact the police. In no way permit an angry driver to stick to you home.

And if the motorist gets out of the vehicle to method you, lock the doors and do not open the window. It can also assist to make a note of the registration quantity and a description of the driver and the automobile.

Temper your temper

It is not always straightforward to stay calm on the roads, specifically if you are stuck in heavy traffic or reduce up by an inconsiderate motorist. But losing your temper isn’t going to assist.

In reality, it is much more most likely to make issues worse.

So next time you really feel the anger rising, take a deep breath, smile and count to 10.

Why does driving make us so angry?