When you drive on the road, many situations can lead to some frustration. You might be running late for work, stuck behind a driver who won’t go faster than the speed limit, or getting cut off in heavy traffic.
However, if you let those feelings boil over, that is road rage.
How does road rage affect driving skills and judgment? Road rage is more than a temporary mood swing. It can seriously affect a person’s judgment and ability to drive safely. Many times, it leads to serious car accidents.
Let’s look at how road rage impacts driving and what it could mean if you have been affected by these drivers.
Road Rage in the United States
Unfortunately, road rage is a common issue across the United States. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, almost 80% of U.S. drivers have admitted to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors at least once in the past year. That breaks down to four out of every five drivers.
Some of these stats are alarming:
- 34% said they had purposely tailgated another vehicle.
- 25% admitted to speeding to pass up other drivers.
- 32% acknowledged honking their horn out of anger or frustration.
- 34% said they had tried to block another vehicle from changing lanes.
- 22% confessed to cutting off another driver on purpose.
This also shows that road rage is not just limited to extreme, headline-grabbing incidents. It’s a daily threat and can affect how drivers maneuver on the road.
Anger Impacts a Person’s Brain
The human body goes into “fight or flight” mode when someone gets angry. That means the heart rate increases and adrenaline surges. As a result, their focus and concentration narrow. While that response might be helpful in a life-threatening situation, it is not ideal when they need to drive down a busy highway.
When someone is angry, they may have a harder time concentrating. This distraction takes your mind off the road. That mental distraction can be just as dangerous as texting while driving.
In a fit of road rage, they may not see the pedestrian stepping into the crosswalk or the car braking suddenly. A split second of distraction in an emotional state can lead to tragic consequences.
Along with that, anger can hijack a person’s decision-making abilities. Instead of calmly and rationally evaluating a situation, a person’s reactions will become impulsive.
What does that mean on the road? These types of drivers will:
- Accelerate aggressively
- Slam on their brakes
- Weave between cars
A person experiencing road rage is not concerned about getting to their destination. Now, it becomes about winning a confrontation that didn’t need to happen in the first place.
Impaired Judgment That Increases Risk on the Road
When road rage happens, it can cloud a person’s judgment in a way that can lead to serious consequences. People who are angry are more likely to take risks they might not normally consider.
On the road, this translates to running a red light, tailgating, or attempting lane changes without checking blind spots. Along with that, people in this state also misinterpret the actions of others.
A driver who slows down to make a turn might seem like they have done that on purpose to intentionally block another driver. In reality, they were just making a turn. This distorted thinking can escalate situations and turn normal traffic interactions into perceived battles.
All of this leads to a heightened risk of accidents. Road rage puts everyone’s lives at risk.
Legal and Financial Fallout
Along with the safety risks, road rage can also have legal and financial consequences.
Speeding, tailgating, or reckless lane changes can lead to traffic tickets, points on your license, or criminal charges.
If the person’s actions result in an accident, they could be liable for injuries, vehicle damage, and increased insurance premiums. Everyone experiences moments of frustration on the road. Road rage does not just affect your mood; it impacts your judgment and driving skills. When someone lets their emotions take over, they are more likely to engage in dangerous behavior that can risk the lives of everyone on the road.
If a road rage driver has injured you, you have the right to take legal action. This dangerous behavior should never be accepted.
At Thomas Law Offices, we will do more than fight for your compensation; we’ll ensure these negligent drivers are held responsible under the law.
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