Missing from American roads: Patience
You wouldn’t smash into someone’s shopping cart if they were strolling too slowly through the vegetable aisle, would you? Or hurry around someone in the mall, only to stop in your tracks, to spite them for cutting in front of you while enroute to the food court?
But people do it all the time on America’s highways. They honk, tailgate, flip middle fingers and even slam into each other when tempers get testy. It’s what Collision Guard calls the “in-vehicle phenomenon” – a explosion of emotion behind the steering wheel that people would never allow to happen in person.
Here’s a look at the “cheer deficit” on U.S. highways and how you can help stop a safe-driving problem that kills thousands of Americans every year. The problem? Road rage.
Did you know
- More than half of all deadly crashes (56 percent) are caused by aggressive driving habits such as speeding, recklessness and failure to yield the right of way.
- The most aggressive drivers tend to be young (between 18 and 24 years old) and male. But research shows that people who engage in distracted driving, such as chatting on cell phones, are more likely to be aggressive than those who don’t.
- More motorists consider road rage a more imminent safe-driving threat than drunk driving (42 percent versus 35 percent), according to a Gallup poll.
- Three out of four drivers rank aggressive driving as one of the most serious automotive safety problems, according to a recent AAA Foundation survey. However, nearly half of those respondents admitted that they violated the speed limit by more than 15 mph in the month before the survey. And a substantial number also reported honking at drivers, tailgating and accelerating to beat traffic lights.
Tips/Awareness
- Attitude is everything: Driving is not a competitive sport. How much is really “won” by cutting ahead of another car? Stay calm and try to forget about time if you’re running late.
- It takes two to tango: It’s hard to get into a fight alone. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn into a confrontation.
- Remember your turn signal: Make sure drivers aren’t surprised by your maneuvers on the road. It may sound simple, but 57 percent of drivers don’t regularly use their signals, according to a Response Insurance survey.
- Don’t cut in line: Cutting off drivers is a sure-fire way to raise tensions around you. Give yourself plenty of room when changing lanes.
- Keep up the pace: Slow driving in the left lane is asking for trouble. Regardless of the speed you are traveling, move to the right lane if someone wants to pass you.
- No tailgating: Not only does tailgating make it difficult for you to respond to an emergency, but it can annoy other drivers. Don’t do it.
- The middle finger doesn’t mean hello: Don’t make obscene gestures. Avoid any visible sign that you may be angry.
- Easy as she goes: If someone cuts you off, slow down and give them some room. Their aggression may escalate if you respond in kind.
- Say sorry: If you make a mistake while driving, try to apologize with an appropriate gesture.
- If all else fails: If you think that you are in serious danger, get help. Call the police or drive to a heavily populated area. Do not drive home and do not get out of the car until you feel safe.
