BUFFALO, N.Y. – As you get ready for your morning commute, take a deep breath. That advice comes from AAA, as a recent study found that 96% of drivers admitted to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors over the past year.
AAA did a similar study in 2016. Since then, they found:
- Cutting off other vehicles is up 67%
- Honking out of anger is up 47%
- Tailgating is down 24%
- Yelling at other drivers is down 17%
Additionally, 11% of drivers admitted to violent actions such as intentionally bumping another car or confronting another driver.
This study features three parts: an academic review, focus groups and a survey/questionnaire. More than 3,000 drivers, not necessarily AAA members, took part. They surprised AAA with one result, however.
“It’s that road rage is contagious,” said Elizabeth Carey, director of Public Relations & Corporate Communications with AAA WCNY. “A lot of drivers said once they experience it, they were more likely to get angry with another driver. So we don’t want to see that. We want to see it going down rather than spreading.”
Those results beg the question: What do you do when you find yourself in a tricky situation? AAA says to avoid hand gestures, unless you’re waving thank you to a driver who let you in.
It’s also suggested you watch the body language of the vehicle, because it can tell you a lot about how the person behind the wheel is feeling.
“Start swerving over to the left a little bit, maybe a signal, maybe not where the driver is looking, but you can almost kind of predict when somebody’s going to cut you off and get in that lane that you’re in,” said Michael Formanowicz, a driving training manager with AAA.
Formanowicz says you can move slightly to the right to signal a driver that it’s OK to pass you. He reminds you to do your best to keep three to four seconds of space between you and the car in front of you. Formanowicz says avoid eye contact, as it ups the ante and makes it personal. And if someone starts following you, never go home. Find a public space, busy parking lot or even a police station to stop.
AAA also found vehicle makes and models play a role in behavior and perception as well. Drivers in sports cars, big trucks and motorcycles are often seen as more aggressive. Some drivers say they felt more powerful and dominant behind the wheel of these vehicles, too.
