Road Rage in Australia: Causes, Risks & Management
Whether someone just cut you off or isn’t indicating properly, plenty of things can cause frustration while driving on our roads.
If you’ve felt road rage or been on the receiving end, you’re not alone, with a 2017 national survey by Monash University (1) suggesting that 93% of Australian drivers have been targeted by road rage during their lifetime and 43% admitting they’ve driven aggressively in retaliation to the road rage of others.
Understanding road rage and learning how to manage this behaviour from others or within yourself is important to help keep everyone safe on our roads and avoid unnecessary traffic incidents.
What is road rage?
Road rage is when a driver experiences a moment of explosive anger and an inability to control emotions.
While we can all feel annoyed at others on the road at times, when we feel a need to retaliate against others, this becomes road rage. Road rage can trigger aggressive behaviour, including things like yelling, screaming, swearing, honking or flashing lights, and tailgating. However, this behaviour can also become dangerous, like speeding, aggressive hand gestures, chasing other drivers, or confrontations outside of the vehicle.
What causes road rage?
Road rage is usually caused by either perceived inappropriate driving by someone else on the road or experiencing “broken trust”. When we drive on our roads, we all have a degree of unspoken trust between ourselves and other drivers about obeying road rules and driving safely. When someone breaks this “trust” it can trigger this behaviour. Road rage can also be brought on by being insulted by another driver.
Gender differences in road rage
Research suggests that younger male drivers are more likely to provoke road rage incidents. The 2017 study by Monash University found that 36% of male drivers aged between 22 and 39 have exhibited aggressive behaviours while driving, most notably chasing down another driver. A study by Compare the Market in 2023 (2) also highlighted that males are slightly more likely to witness a road rage incident than women (63.70% compared to 60.70%).
Note: RSA acknowledges that not all genders are represented in the data provided. The data displayed is based only on the information provided as recorded by their respective sources.
The repercussions of road rage
While we can’t control how we feel in moments of road rage, acting on it can have a number of negative and otherwise avoidable outcomes, both for ourselves and other bystanders.
With road rage also comes the possibility of physical harm, whether in a crash or a physical confrontation. When two drivers experience severe road rage, it can lead to confrontations happening outside of the car, which can lead to physical violence.
Another consequence of targeting other road users with your road rage, especially for those who are newer to the road, is a loss of confidence. Those who are more self-conscious about their driving can be left second-guessing their driving decisions, they may develop reactionary behaviour or experience delayed decision-making, which can become dangerous for them and others.
How to ward off and diffuse your own road rage
It can be important to learn how to control and diffuse emotions related to road rage. Taking proactive measures to prevent yourself from ending up in situations that might trigger these feelings is an important step in keeping yourself and others safe while on the road.
Get enough sleep
Driving tired not only affects our ability to react in emergency situations, but it can also make us more emotional. This can mean situations that normally wouldn’t affect us, leave us feeling frustrated and annoyed. Making sure you have enough sleep before getting behind the wheel is a great proactive measure to prevent the likelihood and intensity of road rage.
Planning ahead
The stress of being late can add to our feelings of agitation. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to get where you’re going, while also considering the potential for traffic delays.
Distance yourself from the other driver
If someone’s behaviour on the road is causing you to feel frustrated, do your best to distance yourself from them. Switch lanes or, where possible, take another route to your destination, so they can’t trigger a reaction.
Practice breathing exercises
When you begin to feel yourself getting worked up by something happening on the road, take a minute to breathe. Focus on breathing in and out, slowly. Shifting your focus from what’s triggering you to your breathing can help you feel calmer.
Play calming music
If you’re someone who doesn’t mind music playing while they drive, choosing a playlist with calm tracks before starting the drive, that you can focus on when you begin to feel frustrated by other drivers can help prevent your feelings from boiling over into a moment of road rage.
How to prevent an episode of road rage
As we mentioned, the most common cause of people experiencing an episode of road rage is the behaviour of other drivers. We should all be respectful and mindful of our actions while driving to keep both ourselves and others safe. Here are some tips that may help minimise the chances of an episode of road rage.
Always wave thank you
Whether you’re merging into a lane or turning onto a main road from a side street, always give a quick wave to the person who lets you in. Especially in moments of heavy traffic congestion, this quick gesture can allow others on the road to feel appreciated.
Don’t block intersections
Always be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid unnecessarily blocking intersections. This can cause traffic jams and frustration when other drivers aren’t able to make their turns, which can cause delays in getting to their destination.
Never tailgate other cars
Even if someone is driving under the speed limit, avoid tailgating cars in front of you. You never know the reason someone may have for driving slower and being too close to other cars, which can cause traffic incidents if the car in front needs to unexpectedly stop.
Always indicate
Whenever you’re marking a turn, make sure to always use your indicator. This is important for letting other drivers know where you’re going to avoid situations that may turn into road rage episodes.
How to react to road rage safely
If you do happen to find yourself in a situation where you’re experiencing road rage from another driver, there are a few things you can do to try and diffuse the situation.
Avoid eye contact
In some situations, people can view continual eye contact as a sign you’re trying to engage with them, which may cause them to escalate further. Avoid looking at them to show you’re not interested in continuing the situation.
Stay alert and behind the angry driver
If you’re not able to distance yourself from them, make sure you stay alert. When people are angry they can forget to obey road rules and make unexpected movements. Giving them as much distance as possible can help prevent you from ending up in an collision.
Let them pass where it is safe to do so
If possible, let the person who is frustrated pass. Removing yourself from the situation can help prevent unnecessary traffic incidents. If they continue to sit behind you, their frustrations may continue to build. Allowing them to pass means both of you can move forward from the situation and continue on with your day.
Acknowledge your mistake
While we should always try and drive to the best of our abilities sometimes mistakes are made, if you happen to cut someone off or make another error that may cause another driver to feel frustrated, acknowledge your mistake. A simple wave to say sorry can help diffuse what may have otherwise been a volatile situation.
Call for help
If someone’s actions escalate to the point you feel unsafe, if possible, have a passenger call the police, or if you are in the situation to do so, pull over and call them yourself. If someone is following you, and you can’t pull over or call the police, drive to your closest police station.
Find out more about road safety in Australia
Unfortunately, road rage is a common occurrence on our roads, but by being aware of your actions and reactions, you can help keep yourself and others on the road safe.
At Road Sense Australia, we’re passionate about reducing the impact of road trauma on our communities. If you want to learn more about how you can make choices that will help get you to your destination safely, our road safety programs are a great way to improve your driving skills and make the roads a safer place for everyone.
