Don’t Let Road Rage Drive Your Decisions on the Road.

Emotions have a huge impact on driving.

Long before starting your car, you've had to wake up, deal with morning stress, perhaps get your kids moving, and worry about work (including getting there on time). Now that you're already stressed out, you start driving and are faced with a variety of drivers who:

• Cruise through intersections during a red light
• Make quick left turns in front of oncoming traffic
• Change lanes six times in the space of two city blocks
• Tailgate so closely that they threaten to weld their car onto your rear bumper
• Ignore the changing light in order to adjust mascara, shave, eat or comb
• Pay more attention to their cell-phone conversations

Such folks turn every day on the road into a test of patience and may even trigger a dangerous emotional response.

"Road rage" refers to driving incidents involving aggressive or violent behavior. Various sources have blamed increased traffic accidents and fatalities on road rage. Others debunk the term as a "fad," claiming that traffic statistics don't reflect increased violence on the part of drivers. While there are no national statistics on road rage cases, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates road rage incidents contributed to more than 500 deaths in 2019 alone.

Every driver is guilty of acts that can be blamed on a lapse in judgment. You may make a proper lane change or legally proceed through an intersection 99 out of 100 times. Unfortunately, those few times when we do not pay attention, the drivers who witness our mistakes may assume that we're hopelessly inept or are doing something deliberate. Take a deep breath from behind your wheel and recognize that the driver who has just done something you consider "stupid" is normally a decent driver and is just having a hard day.

It makes sense to give other drivers the benefit of the doubt. One reason is because it's earned. Most drivers do a terrific job on the road. Especially when you consider the dangers inherent in driving, such as traffic congestion, poor weather, time pressures, and routine road hazards (breakdowns, potholes, pedestrians, etc.). It is a wonder that there are not more accidents, considering the size and speed of vehicles.

A better reason for staying calm behind the wheel is that cool-headed drivers make better decisions. They have a better chance of avoiding or minimizing accidents. Finally, you may run into serious problems if you cause an accident while acting too aggressive. There's a greater chance of causing serious injury and a higher likelihood of legal consequences. You also increase your chances of being sued.

Driving is already tough enough so try not to complicate it more with rude or aggressive behavior. Also, car insurance isn't free, so start your car, give other drivers a break, and keep a cool head. It's an attitude that creates the best chance for getting where you need to go safely.

Are you an aggressive driver?

Find out by taking this short quiz from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.