Road Rage Is On The Rise

What Is Road Rage?

How Does Road Rage Affect Your Driving?

When you feel angry or impatient, you may take bigger risks, such as speeding, swerving, or becoming distracted and taking your eyes off the road. Anger can turn into tunnel vision, leading to danger for drivers.

It’s important to practice defensive driving and take breaks if you are stressed, otherwise road rage could put you into the high risk insurance category.

How Dangerous Is Road Rage?

While many assume road rage to be nothing more than an overly aggressive driver or someone honking their horn, it is a lot more serious. In 43 cases (72.9%), criminal charges were laid, usually assault, manslaughter or dangerous driving, because there is no charge specifically for road rage.

“Many road rage behaviours can be considered aggressive driving, which is one of the leading causes of death on Ontario highways,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt to CBC News. "We still see it all the time, and people are just frustrated on the highways, I guess, and taking it out on their fellow motorists," Schmidt adds.

Road Rage Statistics

Not convinced that road rage is a serious issue? In addition to some of the crazy videos that have popped up online, here are some eye-opening stats from safemotorist.com and NCBI that communicate the dangers of road rage :

• 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving.
• 37% of incidents involve a firearm.
• Half of drivers who are on the receiving end of aggressive behaviour, such as horn honking, a rude gesture, or tailgating admit to responding with aggressive behaviour themselves.
• In 2019, 82% of people admitted to committing an act of road rage in the past year.
• Over a seven years, 218 murders and 12,610 injuries were attributed to road rage.
• 2% of drivers admit to trying to run an aggressor off the road.
• Many Canadians fail to control their emotions when behind the wheel. According to a recent survey, 1 in 3 Canadians admit to suffering from road rage at least once per month.
• Of the biggest pet peeves for drivers, 30% cited tailgating, 22% distracted driving, 22% getting cut off, and 11% another driver taking up two spots in a parking lot.

What Is The Difference Between Road Rage And Aggressive Driving?

These terms are often interconnected. Aggressive driving usually escalates into road rage, but road rage does not always happen in cases of aggressive driving. Other forms of road rage can include stunt driving and speeding.

Tips To Avoid Road Rage

Avoiding aggressive driving habits and road rage incidents are the key to staying safe. Here are some easy to implement ways to avoid situations where it could occur :

• Be self-aware : Being conscious of the situations that make you tense while driving and being aware of your tension level will help you better control your emotions when driving. If you feel stressed or impatient, take a deep breath and refocus on driving.
• Pullover and take a break : Whether you have a long commute or are starting to feel irritated, it’s a good idea to take a break to relax and calm down.
• Don’t rush : Always give yourself enough time to get to your destination. Check your area's traffic, construction, and weather so you can plan your route accordingly.
• Get some sleep : Drowsy driving has a big impact on your mood and ability to drive attentively. A poor night’s sleep will not only make you irritable, it can also increase your chances of making a mistake.
• Don’t sweat the small things : This is perhaps the most important point of all. You and other drivers will make mistakes and errors in judgement when driving – it’s human nature. If another driver makes a mistake, just let it go rather than honking your horn or yelling. It’s not worth getting upset about and potentially escalating the situation.
• Don’t take things personally : Don’t take other drivers’ actions personally. They didn’t merge in front of you or fail to signal just to spite you – they probably just made a mistake. Avoid taking these situations as competition.
• Treat other drivers with respect : How do you want other drivers to treat you? If you make a mistake. you don’t want others to yell at you. You want them to be understanding.
• Don’t aggravate other drivers : Be courteous to other drivers and communicate your intentions by using your signal, don’t tailgate, and let drivers pass or switch lanes.

How To Cure Road Rage

Do you find yourself constantly aggravated on the road? While you can’t control the actions of other drivers, you can control your reactions. Here’s how you can prevent your road rage habits.

• Consider taking an anger management course or seek therapy
• lay soothing music
• Get sufficient rest
• Leave early
• Be aware of how you drive – are you driving distracted or impaired?
• Take a defensive driving program
• Put pictures of your loved ones on your dashboard to remind you to be mindful
• Be present, and remember to breath and relax your hands on the steering wheel
• Take breaks – consider stopping for a short rest or a healthy snack if you’ve been on the road for a couple hours straight
• If you made a mistake, say sorry. It can reduce the risk of conflict

How To Deal With Road Rage Drivers

We’ve all had situations where another driver beeps their horn, gives you the one finger salute or yells obscenities at you. While giving it back to them is tempting, you should always do your best to keep calm and let it go. Here is what to do if you are approached or threatened by a driver with road rage :

• Don’t react or retaliate with gestures or aggressive actions
• Avoid making eye contact
• Never get out of your vehicle and lock your doors
• Maintain your focus on the road
• If you are being tailgated, change lanes or exit
• Slow down and allow them to pass
• In extreme cases, pullover where it is safe and call the police