By Steven Symes 
These days it seems like road rage is a problem everywhere and there’s a good reason for it, since the practice is apparently contagious. That’s the conclusion a recent study has drawn, showing that the problem has become a vicious cycle that has entrapped the vast majority of drivers.
Guy gets instant karma in a road rage incident.
We see the videos and news stories everywhere, including incidents where road rage has turned deadly. And while plenty of people seem to be sick of the phenomenon, chances are you’ve participated in a road rage incident in the last year.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety concluded that in its latest study, finding that 96 percent of drivers have engaged in aggressive behaviors on the road in the last year. That’s a shocking and troubling figure.
What the study defines as “aggressive driving behaviors” goes beyond road rage, though. Cutting off other cars, tailgating, and speeding are all thrown into the same bucket.
Out of those included in the study, 11 percent said they engaged in violent actions while driving. Those can be something like hitting another vehicle or confronting another driver.
The study also found what kind of vehicle you drive can make it more likely you’ll engage in road rage. Out of all drivers, those in full-size trucks, sports cars, and motorcycles are apparently the most aggressive.
But the most troubling part of the study is the conclusion that the more people are exposed to aggressive driving, the more likely they are to mimic it.
Perhaps you feel if you don’t drive aggressively, you’ll just get pushed around on the road. Or you’re so sick of people cutting you off or doing other rude things, when someone does you “punish” them with brake checking them, laying on your horn, or something else.
All of that is just feeding the problem, making it worse.
AAA conducted a similar study back in 2016 and from the data has concluded that cutting off other drivers has increased by 67 percent. Honking out of anger has grown 47 percent.
However, tailgating, one of our most hated habits we see on the road, has dropped 24 percent. Yelling at other drivers has decreased by 17 percent.
What can everyone do? AAA says practicing being courteous and driving safely is the best way to stop driving aggressively. That means you signal before changing lanes, don’t follow closely, and let other cars merge into your lane. The good news is, just like how aggressive behavior is contagious, so is being considerate.
Image via Sherman Trotz/Pexels