How does road rage lead to reckless driving?

When dealing with tricky traffic situations, intense moments of anger can lead to road rage.

There are many factors that cause this problem, so knowing more about when it happens and why can help you make the best decisions possible for yourself and others as you drive.

Aggravating situations

According to the United States Department of Transportation, when a driver cuts someone off in the middle of a turn or in some other traffic situation, many people typically respond in anger. Busy roads and other sources of stress in your life influencing your mood can lead to extreme behaviors.

Phones or electronic devices may distract other drivers, which may make you feel frustrated with them. After noticing this, you could feel the impulse to tailgate them in order to make them understand how frustrating their actions are.

Lack of stress release

When irritating passengers or drivers around you make you feel stressed, you may try to deal with those emotions in a healthy or unhealthy way. One common response is attempting to brake check another car by driving in front of them on the road and stopping quickly in order to scare them.

However, if drivers do not have a way to relax, then they may begin to drive recklessly. If someone else in a car is trying to provoke you, then you should try to pull off the road or let them pass.

Other people’s actions and reactions

Speeding or going through red lights without stopping can put you and everyone around you in danger. When people act aggressively toward you, then it may trigger your own inner anger. Knowing how road rage influences these impulses and ideas is one way to notice reckless driving.