Did you know that in the United States, more than 60% of road deaths result from aggressive driving? And road rage may also affect your driving skills and judgment if not dealt with properly. How Does Road Rage Affect Your Driving Skills And Judgement?
Road rage will impact any driver negatively. It impairs your ability to make a sound judgment when on the road and also clouds clear thinking leading to split decision making, which in many cases leads to fatal accidents.
If you have been driving for some time, or maybe just a passenger, probably you have experienced some form of road rage along the way, and the cases are on a steady rise since, for the last ten years, there has been a 500% increase in reported road rage incidents.
It is shocking as most drivers have admitted that they found themselves in a road rage incident sometime in the past. Though road fury may not often lead to an accident, most do, and it can be fatal.
When your insurance company discovers that your accident was because you were involved in road rage, be ready to pay more than regular premiums as you’ll be prone to road rage-related accidents.
How Road Rage Affects You As A Driver?
As a driver, you need to be able to make a sound judgment on the road, which leads to making intelligent decisions that prioritize the safety of yourself and other drivers, avoiding accidents. On the contrary, road rage causes you to have poor decision-making, often leading to road accidents.
Road rage is majorly caused by stressful moments while on the road. For example, you will see more road rage whenever there is a lot of traffic or a spot with slow-moving vehicles due to ongoing roadworks.
If you need to prevent yourself from engaging in a road rage situation, check your anger first, and if you find yourself getting angry, find something to relax you, such as a soothing song. Also, take stock of your attitude, heart rate, or anxiety while driving.
Who’s Likely To Engage In Road Rage?
Generally, no one is immune to road rage, and everyone behind the wheel is capable of causing one or being a victim. However, some studies show that male drivers, especially teenagers or young adults, are more likely to be aggressive while driving than female drivers.
Arguably, most scientists have concluded that the number one cause of road rage is environmental triggers, such as crowded areas, especially when polluted and hot, and everybody seems to be in a hurry. Most drivers in such conditions are more likely to cause road-related rage errors than drivers in open spaces.
Also, people who use drugs and excessive alcohol are more likely to cause road rage; while most may be in denial and still insist that they have good composure while driving, this might not be the case.
You will also notice that most road rages are due to anger. When you have anger management challenges making you short-tempered, you are more likely to stir up road rage than a patient driver with incredible anger management skills.
How Does Road Rage Affect Your Driving Skills?
When angry, you will notice that you tend to focus your gaze on what makes you angry, leaving out everything else; also, that happens to drivers behind the wheel, which is extremely dangerous.
Anger often shuts down your ability to make informed decisions, which may lead you to over-speeding, or generally breaking traffic rules that may endanger your life and all road users.
When anger takes the better of you, it won’t be easy to manage your blind sides as it will be the last thing in your mind which may likely lead you to cause an accident.
How To Avoid Road Rage?
It is not a secret that road rage kills; it is wise to avoid it before it turns the situation fatal. Below are some practical solutions to prevent road rage.
- Always avoid multitasking while on the wheel
- Stop using your mobile phone while driving
- Improve your anger-management practices
- Find ways to relax when driving, such as a soothing song
- Develop patience, especially in slow-moving traffic
Final Word
Driving is an everyday activity, and it is wise to avoid road rage at any cost, for it negatively impairs your driving skills and sound judgment while on the wheel, which may turn fatal.
All drivers must master the skills required to avoid road rage, like managing anger, developing patience, avoiding multitasking, and using a phone when driving.
FAQ
- What does alcohol do to your driving skill and judgment?
Alcohol impairs your judgment of speed
- What driving behaviors can contribute to road rage?
Behaviors such as cutting off other drivers, tailgating, and driving while distracted
- What are the three types of aggressive drivers?
Erratic driving, illegal passing, and reckless operation of vehicles
