Unit 17 – Driver Stress and Road Rage – Flashcards

It's essential that you have a positive attitude when you get behind the wheel. A novice driver who's willing to be cautious and courteous is generally less dangerous than someone who's received plenty of training but chooses to disregard it whenever he or she feels like it. This unit will help you become conscious of how your choices are influenced by your emotions. The attitude you adopt will determine whether you're "on task" or "at risk."

One reason that novice drivers have difficulty assessing their attitude and identifying their own poor driving habits is because their opinions of driving have been shaped by others their entire life. Inherited attitudes can be hard to recognize and equally hard to correct. It's essential that you identify poor driving habits and start to substitute the appropriate behaviors as soon as possible.

During your behind-the-wheel lessons, practice commentary driving with your instructor by discussing what you see, what you're thinking, and what you're planning to do as you drive. A professional instructor can identify any dangerous attitudes or poor habits you have and help you develop safe ones to replace them. If you rely solely on your parents and peers to teach you to drive, you may pick up some of their bad habits without even realizing it. While practice is important, if you're not careful it can just as easily reinforce bad habits as good ones!

Every person is an emotional being. Our emotions influence every thought we have and every action we perform. Indeed, if you try to suppress them, you'll find yourself more affected by your emotions than ever! Driving under the influence of intense emotions can have severe consequences. Anger, fear, anxiety, depression, discouragement, sorrow, and even excitement have the potential to make you an unsafe driver.

You're more likely to make unsafe decisions if you feel: Negativity towards others Overconfidence in your own driving abilities Insecure about driving Impatience Aggression Anxiety Excessive happiness Love or infatuation Exaggerated emotional sensitivity A lack of self-control Grief

Your emotions can affect the mental skills you need to drive safely. Emotional drivers may: Be unable to think clearly and make decisions quickly Fixate on situations not related to the immediate task of driving Take out their feelings on other drivers Ignore or fail to recognize the degree of risk associated with their actions Pay only slight attention to the driving environment Process information in an erratic or inconsistent way

When you're experiencing intense emotions, you're more likely to respond drastically to a situation. If you enter your car angry, you may respond more aggressively when you encounter frustrating behaviors or conditions on the road. If you enter your car anxious, you may hesitate to act or be excessively cautious, confusing and frustrating other drivers. If you enter your car bubbling over with enthusiasm, you may not drive with the necessary amount of caution and may see your actions as less risky than they are.

Often, stress can motivate you to act or improve how well you perform essential tasks. For instance, stress may make you study harder for an exam or sharpen your concentration when you're competing in a sporting event. Nevertheless, too much stress can affect your mood, your concentration, and your judgment. If you let yourself become stressed while driving, you may react inappropriately and cause a collision.

The key to dealing with stress is learning to recognize when you're stressed, what the causes of the stress are, and how you typically respond when you feel stressed. By understanding your stress, you'll be better able to minimize its influence on your driving and compensate for its affects. You'll also be able to recognize when you shouldn't be driving in the first place. On the next few slides, we'll discuss some common causes of driver stress.

You may feel tenser in dangerous situations because you feel added responsibility for the safety of your passengers. Passengers may comment on the driving situation or second guess your decisions, increasing your anxiety, especially when you're already stressed by driving. Remember, you may not drive with more than one passenger under 21 until you've completed Phase Two of the Graduated Drivers License Program.

Heavy Traffic or Bad Weather Any time you have more decisions to make and more hazards to deal with, you're likely to feel more stressed. As a result, road work and bad weather, traffic, and road conditions can be very stressful, especially if you're in a hurry. In these situations, always remember that there's nothing you can do to change the situation. If possible, use an alternate route with better conditions. If not, just try to concentrate on the road and drive in a safe and courteous manner.

Getting Lost Becoming disoriented can be especially stressful for drivers. When you're lost, each decision you make can make the problem even worse, increasing your stress as you get farther and farther away from a place you're familiar with. You may stop paying attention to other drivers or how you're controlling your own vehicle as you try to identify a way back to a known road. When you're planning to drive in an unfamiliar area, plan your trip ahead of time. Always keep maps in your car so you can find your way back when you get lost.

As we discussed in the previous unit, physical impairments can distract you from driving and decrease your ability to control your car properly. Additionally, if you can't get your emotions under control, they can have a significant long-term effect on your health. Prolonged or repeated feelings of stress can lead to back and stomach pain, insomnia, weight fluctuations, heart palpitations, and a weakened immune system. Moreover, your decision-making ability will be impaired, making you more likely to act in a risky manner when you're on the road.

If you're preoccupied with your own thoughts and mentally dealing with business, school, or family problems while driving, you are adding to your total cognitive workload. As a result, you may make poor driving decisions, take more risks, react more slowly to hazards, and have difficulty judging the speed and distance of oncoming traffic.

You can decrease the stress you feel behind wheel by adopting a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle. Learn to express your feelings in appropriate ways and calm yourself when you're feeling anxious. Share your ups and downs with a parent or close friend. By getting plenty of exercise, sleeping at least eight hours every night, eating properly, and liking who you are, you'll be better able to drive safely. Always decide on a route in advance so you can avoid situations likely to agitate you, especially if you're emotionally preoccupied.

Aggressive driving is defined as any continuous sequence of dangerous driving acts that may endanger people or property, as well as any single intentional violation that requires a defensive reaction on the part of another driver. Aggressive drivers are often in a hurry to get somewhere and willing to intentionally disregard traffic control devices, the rules of the road, and the safety of other roadway users, in the process. Their behavior endangers everyone on the road.

When aggressive drivers become so overcome by anger that they lose all conception of the potential consequences of their actions, they may use their car as a weapon to ram another vehicle or threaten a pedestrian. They may even get out of their car to confront another driver with a tire iron—or a gun! This form of extreme aggressive driving is known as Road Rage. Whereas typical aggressive drivers act recklessly without considering how their actions affect others, drivers experiencing road rage actively seek to harm others.

Drivers experiencing road rage may: Intentionally hit or appear to hit another vehicle with their own Open a car door to cause an approaching bicyclist to crash into it Exit their vehicle in traffic to threaten another driver Pull close to or cut off another driver Speed up when someone tries to pass Deliberately brake suddenly Tailgate another car These behaviors aren't just dangerous—they're also criminal!

Fixate on a single driver, refusing to leave him or her alone Claim the position another driver seeks to occupy or resist another driver's attempts to claim the right-of-way Act like everyone on the road is an obstacle to be circumvented, crossing several lanes at once, ignoring road signs, and claiming the right-of-way without checking to see if others are waiting Believe that every situation can be solved through violence and be ready to pick a fight at any time

Every driver is endangered by aggressive behavior. As the roads become more crowded and more people let their emotions get the best of them, more people are dying as the result of road rage. The exact number of collisions caused by aggressive driving is difficult to determine because it involves the disposition of the driver rather than a specific set of mistakes that can be measured. However, recent research suggests that aggressive driving is responsible for a significant number of fatalities.

Many drivers consider aggressive driving to be the most serious safety issue they face on the road. AAA has suggested that 40% of people think aggressive driving is the most dangerous behavior on the road, while only 33% think that driving under the influence is the most dangerous. The majority of aggressive drivers are male and between 18 and 26 years old. Aggressive drivers involved in collisions are frequently experiencing personal problems at the time of the crash.

Traffic volume, personal and professional stress, immature driving attitudes, and the normalization of disrespectful behavior in society have all contributed to making aggressive and violent behavior more common on the road. Remember, emotions can be contagious. The unfortunate fact is, as more drivers act aggressively, others begin to see such behavior as normal and necessary to compete with others on the road.

Some personality traits naturally predispose a person to drive aggressively. A common personality trait among aggressive drivers is egotism—a feeling that no one else matters as much as oneself. Egotistical people generally act as though rules don't apply to them. An egotistical driver is more likely to speed and drive in an unsafe way, and is less likely to yield the right-of-way, make room for merging vehicles, or let other drivers pass.

Many drivers have an immature attitude or lack appropriate values and boundaries. Such drivers may be compulsive and competitive and will frequently make decisions without considering them fully. Because these drivers are less able to regulate their mood and may not understand how to deal with others courteously, they can be driven to unchecked anger by the stresses of the road.

A bad mood can make even people who are normally calm and cautious drive aggressively: No matter what its cause, anger is one of the most dangerous emotions to feel on the road. If it becomes focused on another driver, anger can quickly turn into road rage. Stress can be distracting and cause you to overreact to small problems. When confronted with additional stressful situations on the road, you may snap. If you're feeling rushed and impatient, you may feel that you don't have time for courtesy, especially if the roads are congested. You may take dangerous shortcuts that won't actually save you much time, endangering others in the process. Remember, a bad mood is only temporary, but if you let it affect the way you drive, the consequences won't be!

In addition, drivers often feel anonymous inside their cars, and thus empowered to act as they wish because nobody knows who they are. Inside the protection of their cars, these drivers may feel distinctly separate from others on the road. Even people who are usually mild-mannered may indulge their aggression when they're behind the wheel. Since most people on the road are strangers to each other, a driver may feel that his or her actions won't have significant consequences.

As you scan the road and observe the actions of others, watch for drivers acting aggressively and likely to endanger you. If you don't pay attention, you won't be able to protect yourself. Remember, any driver you see committing two or more violations likely to result in a collision, or one violation that requires an immediate defensive action from another driver, is an aggressive driver and should be avoided. Resist the temptation to react to these drivers.

Tailgating, especially when done repeatedly or when combined with honking Blocking another vehicle attempting to change lanes or merge Honking excessively, often at road users who are driving safely Ignoring traffic control devices, including running red lights and stop signs, failing to obey turn lane markings, and changing lanes across solid lines

Aggressive drivers may actively challenge or harass others by: Revving their engine while tailgating to pressure another driver to speed up or move over Indicating their disapproval towards another driver with a hostile stare Yelling, making insulting gestures, or becoming physically violent Braking in front of a tailgater or entering a lane of traffic in front of another driver and stopping suddenly, a practice known as brake checking

When other drivers get agitated, you must respond by remaining as calm as possible. As long as you're able to think clearly, you'll remain in control of the situation. Give an aggressive driver plenty of space. Don't attempt to engage the other driver's attention or signal to him or her in any way, unless it's essential for your safety. To someone overwhelmed by anger, even a friendly smile can be misinterpreted.

If another driver insults you or treats you rudely, ignore it. The best thing you can do when you encounter an aggressive driver is to let him or her pass you. There's no reason to endanger yourself because another driver is acting recklessly. Avoiding aggressive drivers is rarely difficult: if you leave them alone, they'll drive away from you themselves. If you try to challenge them, however, you may become the object of their rage and they may continue to harass you for miles, even if it means going out of their way to do so.

Even if you think another driver is acting dangerously enough that he or she may cause a deadly collision, it's not your responsibility to play the hero. Pull over, call Texas Highway Patrol, and describe the vehicle in question and its driver's behavior. Peace officers are trained to deal with aggressive drivers safely. If you see a collision caused by an aggressive driver, continue past the site of the crash and pull over. Don't engage with anyone involved in the collision unless emergency assistance is needed. Wait for law enforcement to arrive to provide an account of what you witnessed.

As a driver, you must avoid behaviors likely to anger others or provoke them to act aggressively. A careless or reckless mistake may cause a tense or stressed driver to lose control of his or her emotions. Remember, aggressive drivers are generally impatient, insistent on having their own way, and critical both of themselves and others. If you make a driving error, even accidentally, it's possible the other driver will try to pick a fight with you.

Don't cut into another driver's lane. Always signal your intentions to change lanes and only move over when it's safe. Don't wait at a green light if it's safe to proceed. However, if there's someone in the intersection or crosswalk, don't proceed even if drivers behind you are honking at you. Don't wait to turn right at a red light if it's safe and legal to turn. Don't stop in the middle of the roadway to talk to a pedestrian or other road user or to ask for directions.

Drivers tend to be especially irritated when others fail to obey traffic control devices, even if they aren't personally endangered by the violation. Don't run red lights or rush through yellow lights. Always come to a full stop at a STOP sign. Don't turn in places where turning is not permitted. Stay inside the lines: don't pass others by crossing double solid yellow lines or change lanes across a solid white line

It's not hard to figure out why drivers can become so angered by another driver's mistakes: traffic violations force them into a situation where they have to act quickly to avoid a collision. When you endanger another driver, don't be surprised if he or she tries to retaliate with aggressive behavior. Remember that other drivers are actual people who may become deeply upset if they feel that their lives are in danger.

Don't let yourself be distracted by your cell phone, the driving environment, eating or drinking, or anything else. Don't stray from your lane into another driver's operating space. Don't honk unnecessarily or make rude gestures in response to others' mistakes. Don't play music loud enough for others to hear it. Don't attach bumper stickers to your car likely to offend drivers who don't share your opinions or sense of humor. Don't use your high beams when they're unnecessary or you're approaching another driver. Don't be oblivious when another driver wants to pass you.

Most drivers have a "Do as I say, not as I do" attitude towards aggressive driving. As we discussed earlier, while most drivers consider aggressive driving to be serious problem, many continue to demonstrate aggressive behaviors when they drive. Everyone on the road has the responsibility to avoid driving aggressively. Not only does it endanger other drivers directly, but it also increases the chances that other drivers will act even more aggressively in response.

Avoid getting frustrated even if you're running late, stuck in traffic, or irritated by another person's disrespectful driving. Be patient when other drivers make mistakes. Remember, you're not the only person on the road. When you're stuck in traffic, so is everyone else around you, and they probably have places to be just as urgently as you. If you drive aggressively, you're likely to annoy other drivers who have managed to avoid becoming aggravated by the exact same situation.

When you see a driver who appears to be tense or agitated, treat him or her with extra courtesy rather than react out of irritation. If a flustered driver wants to enter your lane, give him or her plenty of space. A single act of courtesy is often enough to remind other drivers that nobody's out to get them and that they also have an obligation to drive safely. Moreover, by helping a driver who's more anxious than you are, you can feel better about yourself and take your mind off your own frustrations.

Remember, the law exists to protect you. Any time you disregard the law, you endanger yourself at least as much as you endanger anyone else. It's very likely that the person most seriously injured in a collision caused by your behavior will be you. Even if you escape unharmed, there are severe financial, legal, social, and physical consequences to aggressive driving and road rage. You may be convicted of assault or manslaughter and sentenced to years in prison.

One of the best ways to avoid aggressive driving is to be prepared before you even get into your car. If you feel offended, angry, or emotional when you have to drive, figure out ahead of time how you are going to remain focused on the driving task and avoid overreacting to frustrations on the road. Practice techniques to help you stay calm in potentially dangerous situations. Learn to take deep breaths, slow down, and stay away from aggressive drivers when you're feeling tense.