Calming and soothing music can stop road rage, according to studies. But not enough drivers have paid attention to this finding as 82% of drivers admit to having road rage or driving in an aggressive manner. This is shocking as road rage is a leading cause of road accidents. So, just what are the real risks of road rage and what can you do to prevent it?
Understanding road rage
Road rage involves aggressive or dangerous driving. This includes actions such as tailgating, swearing, shouting, blocking a vehicle from changing lanes, displaying rude gestures, and purposely crashing into another vehicle. There is no one cause of road rage, but research shows young males are more likely to demonstrate this type of behavior on the road. Psychologists say environmental factors, psychological factors, and alcohol and drug misuse all play a role in road rage too.
The biggest risks
The biggest risk of road rage is being involved in a collision. Driversed reports that around one-third of crashes are caused by road rage. This is because road rage makes drivers do dangerous things, such as run red lights, speed, and fail to signal before maneuvering. A collision often results in vehicles being written off and injuries being sustained. Physical injuries, such as broken limbs, bruising, and brain injuries are common, while emotional trauma, anxiety, and PTSD are often reported too. A car accident lawyer will normally be involved in cases where injuries are reported as this will help the victim secure compensation for the accident.
Prevention techniques
It’s clear more needs to be done to keep all road users safe from road rage. As previously mentioned, playing calming music can help drivers to stay in control on the road. There are other things you can do, too. You’re more likely to feel stressed and lose your temper if you’re in a rush, so give yourself plenty of time to get to your end destination. If another driver gets aggressive with you on the road, make sure you stay calm and avoid retaliating. 2% of drivers confess to getting revenge on drivers with road rage, but this is unnecessary and risky. The best thing you can do is pull over somewhere safely to chill out before getting back on the road.
Staying safe
Over the past decade, there has been a 500% increase in the number of reported road rage cases, according to The Zebra. You therefore need to take action to protect yourself from these individuals. When driving, always lock the doors of your vehicle as aggressive driving often leads to face-to-face altercations. If you ever feel like you’re in danger from an aggressive driver, avoid going home as there’s a risk you’ll be followed. Instead, call the police or drive straight to the nearest police station.
Road rage is a big risk to road safety. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to stop yourself from getting upset behind the wheel and to protect yourself from drivers that act unfavorably.