(27 minutes required)
Misplaced anger and inappropriate outward acts of aggression seem to be all around us in today's society. We experience these conflicts at our place of employment, in our schools, and in our personal lives. Many of us also encounter hostility on our roads. Why do we tend to drive like a maniac when we are stressed and frustrated? Society has brought us to a point where many expectations are placed on us. We have appointments all over town, people to see, places to go, and deadlines to meet. To achieve some of those goals, driving is necessary. If we don't manage our time efficiently, we start getting backed up, we have to be somewhere five minutes ago, we're now rushing to get there, and the person in front of you has the nerve to be driving the speed limit. Don't they know you're late? Get the picture? Sound familiar? Most of us have been guilty of aggressive driving at one time or another. We can try to label this a societal problem, but some blame what's happening on people having become so self-centered that it is now reflected in our driving habits.
One in four Americans admits to driving aggressively, most commonly by speeding because they are running late, according to a 1998 study by the American Automobile Association.
That's 45 million aggressive drivers, a bigger problem than "road rage," a better known but different pattern. In road rage, drivers try to harm others with their vehicles. Aggressive drivers, by AAA's definition, drive without regard for others' safety.
The survey was based on telephone interviews with 942 licensed drivers across the country. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Some 25 percent of those surveyed said they had driven aggressively in the past year, and 32 percent of those said they did so several times.
When asked how they were being aggressive, 58 percent cited speeding, and 23 percent said they changed lanes excessively. About 11 percent said they tailgated, while a similar number said they ran a red light or stop sign.
Among the most common reasons for aggressive driving were lateness, slow traffic in the high-speed lane and frustration at traffic congestion. Thirty-nine percent said they coped with traffic congestion by changing lanes excessively or running red lights and stop signs.
While many drivers acknowledge that they drive aggressively, they may not be aware just how aggressive they are. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed one test that helps people determine whether they are an Aggressive Driver or a Smooth Operator. Take the test yourself and answer all of the questions with either YES or NO.
Yes No |
1. Overtake other vehicles only on the left? |
Yes No |
2. Avoid blocking passing lanes? |
Yes No |
3. Yield to faster traffic by moving to the right? |
Yes No |
4. Keep to the right as much as possible on narrow streets and at intersections? |
Yes No |
5. Maintain appropriate distance when following other motorists, bicyclists, motorcyclists, etc.? |
Yes No |
6. Provide appropriate distance when cutting in after passing vehicles? |
Yes No |
7. Use headlights in cloudy, rainy, and other low light conditions? |
Yes No |
8. Yield to pedestrians? |
Yes No |
9. Come to a complete stop at stop signs, before right turns on red, etc.? |
Yes No |
10. Stop for red traffic lights? |
Yes No |
11. Approach intersections and pedestrians at slow speeds to show your intention and ability to stop? |
Yes No |
12. Follow right-of-way rules at four-way stops? |
Yes No |
13. Drive below posted speed limits when conditions warrant? |
Yes No |
14. Drive at slower speeds in construction zones? |
Yes No |
15. Maintain speeds appropriate for conditions? |
Yes No |
16. Use vehicle turn signals for all turns and lane changes? |
Yes No |
17. Make eye contact and signal intentions where needed? |
Yes No |
18. Acknowledge intentions of others? |
Yes No |
19. Use your horn sparingly around pedestrians, at night, around hospitals, etc.? |
Yes No |
20. Avoid unnecessary use of high beam headlights? |
Yes No |
21. Yield and move to the right for emergency vehicles? |
Yes No |
22. Refrain from flashing headlights to signal a desire to pass? |
Yes No |
23. Drive trucks at posted speeds, in the proper lanes, using non-aggressive lane changing? |
Yes No |
24. Make slow, deliberate U-turns? |
Yes No |
25. Maintain proper speeds around roadway crashes? |
Yes No |
26. Avoid returning inappropriate gestures? |
Yes No |
27. Avoid challenging other drivers? |
Yes No |
28. Try to get out of the way of aggressive drivers? |
Yes No |
29. Refrain from momentarily using High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to pass vehicles? |
Yes No |
30. Focus on driving and avoid distracting activities (e.g., smoking, use of a cellular telephone, reading, shaving, etc.)? |
Yes No |
31. Avoid driving when drowsy? |
Yes No |
32. Avoid blocking the right-hand turn lane? |
Yes No |
33. Avoid taking more than one parking space? |
Yes No |
34. Avoid parking in a disabled space (if you are not disabled)? |
Yes No |
35. Avoid letting your door hit the car parked next to you? |
Yes No |
36. Avoid stopping in the road to talk with a pedestrian or other driver? |
Yes No |
37. Avoid inflicting loud music on neighboring cars? |
Count the number of NO answers to see where you score below.
1 to 3: Excellent - You are a courteous driver and help make our highways safer.
4 to 7: Good - You have many good habits but a few that cause frustration to drivers.
8 to 11: Fair - You have some good habits but have room for improvement.
More than 12: Poor - You are a danger to yourself and other highway users.
Anytime you become selfish, irritated, bold or pushy in your vehicle, you stop respecting the rights and safety of other road users. Look at your NO answers - these are the habits that you need to change regardless of how you scored. However, a single test will tell you only part of your problem. The one you just completed looked only at your driving behaviors and not what's inside you. Before we do this, we'll look at what aggressive driving is.
Since the 1950s, demographic changes have had an impact on driving habits. The population has grown and the number of vehicles has increased, but the roads and highways have not kept up with the demand. Add to this an obsession with driving our own vehicles to work and a dislike for public transportation, and presto, "Road Rage" is born.
It is impossible to ignore the effects of road rage when living in a highly populated area. The term "road rage" became popular during the late 1990s, with horror stories popping up in the local and national news. Yet that term has been defined so broadly that we begin to wonder where our behavioral patterns fit. Road rage is often used interchangeably with another term, aggressive driving, but it is important to understand that they are not the same.
Aggressive driving is a traffic offense in Delaware and in several other states. NHTSA defines this behavior as "the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner which endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property." Aggressive driving behaviors include speeding, improper lane changing, tailgating, improper passing, cutting off others, and other forms of negligent or inconsiderate driving. Basically, aggressive driving is selfish, pushy and inconsiderate driving.
Aggressive driving, therefore, is driving in a way that endangers yourself and others on the road.
Road rage is considered a criminal offense. NHTSA defines road rage as "an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passengers(s) of another motor vehicle or vehicles precipitated by an incident which occurred on a roadway." It is often the result of aggressive driving but can occur separately.
What Causes Aggressive Driving?
Aggressive driving is often a result of a competitive society, gridlock that seems to be unavoidable, and learned behavior from our parents, peer influence, movies and television. In many cases it results from frustration, which does lead to aggression in many situations. Gridlock is a source of frustration for many drivers; according to the Texas Transportation Institute, American urban drivers in 2005 spent an average of nearly 40 hours (or one work week) stuck on congested roads! Other frustrating situations include drivers who fail to signal and drivers who do not merge properly. Aggressive drivers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, get into collisions, and have speeding violations.
Road rage can be provoked by the aggressive driving actions of other drivers. In most cases, however, this behavior stems from the attitude or mood a driver brings with him or her behind the wheel and the choices he or she makes in certain situations. People often get into a vehicle when they are stressed or angry. Once they start driving, they often take out their problems on others. Their anger can ruin their personal lives if it is not managed.
Although aggressive driving can lead to road rage, it is possible to control yourself before you commit an offense. You must develop adequate coping techniques so you do not succumb to road rage.
Some Significant Facts Regarding Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
It can become difficult to distinguish between managed anger and out-of-control misplaced aggression because people differ in how they cope with and react to stress. There is no one right way to cope with stress and anger. You will need to design a program that is right for you based on your beliefs about anger and the ability to have self-discipline.
Having self-discipline will not require you to be hard on yourself or become uninteresting. It simply means that you will not allow your emotions or anyone else to control you. Maintaining self-discipline also means that if you promise to make an attempt to control your anger, you will keep that promise. For example, if you are having a bad day and another driver cuts you off, you will not let that person take away your ability to stay calm. You will learn to maintain self-control and be responsible for your actions.
Your inability to control your anger affects every aspect of your life and not just when you are driving, whether you want to admit it or not. It affects all of the people who know you best, and most of all it affects your body's ability to be calm and relaxed. As you become more involved in your behavior modification routine, a sense of responsibility will become more obvious to you. You have the power to change your life for the better, so begin to prepare yourself for this change.
Communicating With Yourself
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This chapter focuses on developing a behavior modification program that works best for you. This will require you to start an online Anger Journal where you will answer questions located throughout the program. The thoughts and emotions that you record in your online Anger Journal will be available to you for future analysis.
The Anger Journal is included with enrollment in this online behavior modification program as a supplement to the course. Every entry will be saved in your file and available to you whenever you log on. Once you have completed the course, you will be able to print out your Anger Journal and use it for future reference. The contents of your personal Anger Journal will be kept confidential and the program deleted when you have finished this behavior modification course.
Whenever you see the Anger Journal link, you will know that you need to answer the questions asked. You are required to complete all entries in this online Anger Journal. But you will also benefit if you stick to a daily writing schedule for the duration of this program by keeping a separate journal in a paper format. You can either write in it immediately after the frustrating situation or after you have cooled off and you are ready to reflect on the day. Both methods are equally valid and helpful when attempting to understand how you communicate with others and yourself. Please complete all of the journal exercises specified by this behavior modification course in your Anger Journal. Take a moment to become familiar with this tool by clicking on the Anger Journal link and entering your Anger Journal now.
Be as detailed as possible in your Anger Journal.
Example of how to use your online Anger Journal:
When you are writing in your journal, focus on your personal life.
No Easy Answers
Chances are you are involved in this online Behavior Modification course because you are ready to become acquainted with your emotions. Knowing when to get help is the first step towards one of the most personally satisfying progressions you could ever take towards self-improvement. Beginning to understand anger as a natural emotion is important in gaining control over your response to conflict. Managed anger is a healthy and positive aspect of everyday life and is the key to resolving arguments and conflicts. Destructive anger has the ability to tear apart families and friendships and leave a person with virtually nothing. You may have already experienced this in your personal and professional life. Often anger is a result of an overabundance of stress, and you may not have the tools or patience necessary to combat any form of anger effectively. This is a situation that one out of every five Americans faces in the United States. Once you are ready to confront your anger and hostility, you can gain access to a healthy and happy life.
It is also important to remember that you cannot always find easy answers to the conflicts in your life, and at times there may be no answer at all. Focus on calming yourself down and confronting each conflict with the best attitude possible. Because a solution may not be attainable or easy to reach, there is no point in getting angry or hostile. Of course this can be frustrating, but you will feel proud after you have made an honest effort to maintain control. An example of a situation with "no easy solution" that is quite common is when you don't have a car or a job. You want a job, but you need a car to get there and you need a job to get the car.
Understand that many problems will require more than one attempt to solve. Some problems are not solvable right now, while others will never have a solution. How will you deal with this reality?
Learn to communicate with your inner self because this is the most important person you associate with.
In the fast-paced, hectic world we live in these days, it's very easy to get caught up in things and people around us. Sometimes we focus so heavily on the external that we begin to neglect our inner well-being. We lose sight of who we are and where we're going while simply trudging through life one emotional breakdown after another.
This course should enable you to objectively recognize this pattern in your own life. After completing this behavior modification program, you will be equipped with knowledge that, above everything else, will teach you how to really know yourself. It is quite a life-affirming thing when you get to really know that "stranger within," the core essence of your being which you might have never really felt significantly in touch with until now.
First, attempt to become acquainted with the idea of change by mentally preparing yourself for a new awareness of your anger. Increase your motivation to make this happen by writing down the following in your Anger Journal.
The benefits of behavior modification are becoming clear by now. But are you really prepared to commit to a life of self-control? How will you introduce your family and friends to this concept? They are probably more than ready to help you through this process. Answer the questions below in your Anger Journal.
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After you have prepared yourself, your family, and your friends, it is time to focus on the aggravating confrontations that lead to angry outbursts. You will learn to monitor your stress levels and avoid anger-invoking situations. You will also learn to plan a mental and physical escape route when these circumstances arise. For example, you will attempt to use highways that are less congested and stay off the road during rush hour (as this is not always possible, you will need to develop some driving relaxation techniques).
Many of us have been storing angry thoughts and grudges within our bodies for long periods of time. You will attempt to let go of this resentment because it will only cause damage to your new outlook on anger. Attempt to forgive others and ask them to forgive you. Always remember that it's never too late to say you're sorry. From now on, you will try to give your counterpart the benefit of the doubt and try to be constructive when tackling hard topics of conversation. You will also try to give other drivers the benefit of the doubt and not take their behaviors personally.
The last part of change is maintaining this pattern of growth as best as you can for the rest of your life. Try to prepare yourself for future anger episodes. New triggers may re-ignite your anger, so don't expect yourself to be perfect or for this process to be easy.
An anger eruption does not necessarily evolve from one big catastrophe in your life. It usually accumulates from many little conflicts in your daily routine that eventually become unbearable. Stress and anger have the problematic ability to creep up on you when you least expect it and need it. It will not be easy at first to notice your levels of stress before they get out of hand, but you will be able to take charge of your life by following some simple and uncomplicated relaxation techniques. Take notice of your little conflicts and aggravators by filling in the chart below:
Your family and friends may notice your anger more than you realize. Because you have spent so much time justifying (excusing) your actions, you've probably fooled yourself. As a result, the steps to understanding your anger will require deep reflection. Begin to become acquainted with your inner self by attempting to understand your methods of justification and rationalization. First, start by recognizing the purpose of justification:
From now on, you will have to find other ways to deal with your anger. Justification, in respect to your emotions and behavior, is also an effective method of denying your ability to take responsibility for your anger. Becoming accountable for your anger and outrage will prove to be very beneficial in managing your emotions. Unhealthy justification:
Making up excuses and blaming others will only cause you to lose focus and momentum in your quest for personal control. Begin your first try at self-reflection by completing the following exercise in your Anger Journal.