Driver aggression is related to road safety. In addition to the skill behind the wheel, the emotional state is also very important.
Last update: December 24, 2018
Driver aggression is one of the variables that cause road accidents. In addition to the vehicle and the environment, the emotions of the person driving are also involved in safety.
Some people consider themselves very adept behind the wheel, but they don't consider their physical or emotional state. Driver aggression can have direct or indirect consequences for other vehicles or pedestrians.
When we talk about driver aggression, we are referring to a road safety problem. It is now known that the emotional state of the person behind the wheel is a risk factor. Therefore, it is necessary to know it more thoroughly.
Driving a vehicle presupposes taking a certain responsibility also for the other people and vehicles that occupy the road. It is therefore essential to always be aware of your actions while driving.
Impulsiveness behind the wheel
For some people, the automobile has become more than just a means of transportation. Sometimes it can even be a second home, considering the hours we spend there.
The car is like a metal shield inside which the driver feels protected. It makes him feel immune to external aggression.
The aggressive driver is characterized by an impulsive personality. When he gets into the car, he does not follow common sense and practices attitudes contrary to the general safety rules.
A hostile personality combined with stress and mismanagement of emotions can lead to aggressive behavior behind the wheel.
This is not only affected by the individual's temperament, but also by external factors, including noise and road conditions. In today's article we try to investigate the consequences of driver aggression.
Driver's aggression: external factors
External factors related to the driver's aggression they refer to the circumstances in which it finds itself, usually impossible to control. For example: traffic jams, lack of parking, infringements by other drivers ...
These are elements that can increase the driver's stress and anxiety levels, thus creating hostile behavior. The person thus turns into an aggressive driver.
Furthermore, intense external stimulation is not always necessary to engage in violent driving behavior. And this is because the real detonator of aggression is the emotional state of the person. As a result, external factors actually act as the straw that breaks an already overflowing camel.
Driver's aggression: internal factors
In this case, the factors underlying the driver's aggression concern his psycho-physical state. These include, among others, the ability to focus on what he is doing, i.e. driving.
For example, a person who got up in a bad mood, stressed or angry easily brings these emotions behind the wheel. So, even the slightest stimulus can generate a serious reaction, depending on the emotional state that accompanies it.
Imagine committing a small offense behind the wheel. The consequences will not be the same if you apologize or react aggressively or violently.
8 rules to avoid aggression behind the wheel
To avoid falling victim to anger, it is important to consider some guidelines:
- Respect the traffic regulations. In addition to avoiding accidents, you will feel more relaxed and limit the risk of causing damage to objects or people.
- Control helplessness and anger. You will not solve anything by shouting, insulting or attracting attention.
- Be politejust like you do when you are not driving.
- Remember that the road belongs to everyone, and therefore there are rules to be respected. In traffic we pass thousands of people and each of them is in a hurry, is stressed, bored of the hours spent behind the wheel ... Respect for others is essential.
- You are not having a race! The vehicle we drive is simply a means we have at our disposal to move from one place to another.
- Plan your trip before driving. Calculating a prudent time considering also the setbacks can help you. This way you will already be prepared for possible stressful situations.
- Keep a quiet environment inside the car. Avoid loud noises, arguments, shouts… To drive calmly and consciously, your surroundings must also be adequate.
Road education is the solution
At the wheel, as in life, we do not know the circumstances in which every person we meet finds himself. We cannot know if she is in a bad mood, if her head hurts or if she is feeling stressed. It is important to think that each of us is different, even while driving.
Some drivers have slow reflexes, others are distracted or drive fearfully. But in any case, it is necessary to follow a correct behavior and respect the traffic rules.
To find a solution to the driver's aggression, experts highlight the need for road education. They recommend clear messages that reach the general population, but also the little ones. They also insist on the need to introduce a school subject that teaches children the consequences of failing to comply with the rules.
Finally, to avoid aggressive attitudes behind the wheel, the examples given are fundamental. In home, from an early age, children can be educated to respect the rules of coexistence and also those of the street.
