In the same way that online anonymity emboldens people to act in a way they simply wouldn’t if face-to-face with somebody, so it can be the same on our roads.
The anonymity and feeling of protection that sitting in our car can give creates a false sense of security that sometimes makes us act in a way we wouldn’t otherwise.
How many of us have been minimally inconvenienced by another driver and have reacted by shouting, gesturing and swearing at them in a way we never would if they had stepped in front of us on the sidewalk?
So road rage is a situation that can cause otherwise perfectly calm and rational people to react emotionally, sometimes violently.
You may not be aware of the statistics, but in the last seven years, there have been more than 200 murders in the US as a direct result of road rage incidents. When you add to that the official statistic of 12,000 injuries as a result of road rage, you can see it’s not harmless.
Road rage is a crime and it can generate behaviors that lead to other crimes being committed. Road rage is often classified as aggressive driving, which can result in arrest, a fine, or even imprisonment.

How Is Road Rage Defined?
Although it may not have been made particularly clear to you when you were learning to drive, every driver on the road in our country is legally obligated. They are expected to drive carefully, exercise caution, and show respect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration classifies road rage within the broader classification of “aggressive driving”. Some of the behaviors classified as aggressive driving are:- Illegally passing
- Failure to yield
- Tailgating
- Passing on the inside
- Passing through red lights
- Aggressive and frequent crossing between lanes
- Speeding
- Ignoring traffic signs and signals

What You Should Do If Confronted By A Road Rage Situation
As you now know, road rage falls within the parameters of aggressive driving, and if you get caught up in such an incident, you can be committing a crime. If you are put in a situation on the road where you become agitated, or somebody else becomes agitated, it’s very important that you think clearly and avoid escalating the situation. Most of these are common sense, but by stating them here, hopefully you will remember them next time you are in a confrontational incident in your car:- Remember that you are both human and both could be at fault.
- Ask yourself if you would react the same way if that person was standing in front of you, rather than sitting in your cars.
- Do not react as if in a competition. If somebody pulls up in the next lane intent on speeding away, you don’t have to race them.
- Recognize when somebody is completely out of control emotionally, and that nothing you will do can defuse that mood.
- If possible, slow down, move out of the way and allow the other driver to go on their way.
- Never gesture, make eye contact, or act aggressively with your body language, or the movements of your vehicle.
- Look out for people who try to provoke or cause provocation through their driving, for example aggressive tailgating.
- Tell yourself this situation does not have to escalate, and try to regulate your breathing to stay calm. By reducing your heart rate and focusing on your breathing, you can reduce rising adrenaline.
