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Fact Sheet
Road Rage
Are You Susceptible To Road Rage? Could you be contributing to the problem without even knowing it? Take this simple road rage test and find out how you do?
Which of the following best describes you? Please be as accurate as possible.
The Passing Lane
A. I don’t pay any special attention to people following me when I drive in the passing lane. B. I’m aware of who is following me when in the passing lane. C. I only use the passing lane to pass other people.
Cell Phones
A. I chat on the phone when driving.
B. I get annoyed by people who talk on the cell phone and don’t pay attention to their driving. C. I do not talk on the phone when driving.
Tailgating
A. I get tailgated from time to time.
B. I will tailgate someone who is travelling too slow. C. I try not to tailgate people.
Staring
A. I’ve seen people stare at me while they’re passing. B. I’ve been known to stare at people who annoy me.
PRP 52 Revised – February 2009
C. I avoid staring at other drivers.
Muttering
A. I mutter when I encounter a hyper driver. B. I mutter when I encounter a slow or “stupid” driver. C. I seldom mutter about another person’s driving.
The Horn
A. I will honk at people who honk at me first.
B. I’ve been known to “lean” on my horn to express anger.
Obscene Gestures
A. I will only make an obscene gesture to someone if someone gestures obscenely first.
B. I’ve been known to make an obscene gesture at other drivers. C. I never make an obscene gesture at another driver. If you answered A to the majority of the questions, chances are you’re contributing to the problem whether you realize it or not. If you answered B to the majority of the questions, you are exhibiting aggressive behaviour. If you answered C to the majority of the questions, your road rage risk is low.
C. I only use my horn to catch other people’s attention.
Headlights
A. Sometimes I notice people flashing their headlights or high beams behind me while I’m driving in the passing lane.
For more information on this subject, please contact:
C. The only time I use my headlights is to help me see when driving.
Tel. 905-453-2121 ext. 4021 Fax 905-456-6106
B. I’ve been known to flash my headlights at slower moving traffic or use my high beams to get them to move out of the way.
Peel Regional Police Crime Prevention Services 7750 Hurontario Street Brampton, Ontario L6V 3W6
You may also want to examine our Internet site at: www.peelpolice.ca
Road Rage
Fact Sheet
The realities of road rage According to a Leger Marketing poll, one in five Canadians has been the victim of road rage and one in three has witnessed a road rage incident. Incidents of road rage are becoming more prevalent as the pace of our society gets faster and faster and the amount of traffic increases. Road rage has a tendency to get out of hand and can result in fights, damage to vehicles, the use of weapons, criminal charges, injury and even death. You can reduce your chances of becoming involved in a road rage incident by following these simple tips. Preventing Road Rage
Most of us tend to over estimate our driving abilities yet are critical when it comes to judging others. Road rage generally results when a driver’s expectations about how much time is needed to travel somewhere is upset by the driving of another person. Road rage can be triggered by poor, inattentive and/or inefficient driving, the latter of which is virtually impossible to prevent as it is based on the other driver’s often unreasonable expectation of how traffic should move. Frequent road rage triggers that are preventable include: • driving slower than trailing traffic in the passing lane (even if you’re driving at a speed in excess of the limit), • making sudden lane changes and cutting people off, • failure to use your signals, • driving on the shoulder, • butting into line or parking spaces, and • driving inattentively including talking on the cell phone.
signs of road rage
Typical signs of road rage include: • swearing/gestures, staring, tailgating and/or flashing your headlights or highbeams, • using your horn excessively, and • deliberately cutting across another vehicle’s path or blocking someone else’s progress. You will reduce your chances of becoming involved in a road rage incident by following these do’s and don’ts:
Mental Outlook Do
• Make yourself comfortable in your vehicle. • Be courteous. • Realize that the rest of the world does not drive according to your expectations.
DoN’T
• Drive when tired. • Feel territorial about the road.
Driving Tips Do
• Plan routes well allowing enough time to arrive at your destination. • Pay attention to your driving. • Keep to the right when driving at the speed limit or being overtaken by other vehicles. • Keep the appropriate distance from other vehicles. • Use your mirrors, signals, and check your “blind” spot. • Never cut other drivers off.
DoN’T
• Talk on the cell phone while driving. • Overuse the horn, headlights or highbeams. • Butt into line or drive on the shoulder of the road. • Tailgate.
Controlling Road Rage
In the event that something makes you angry: • Be forgiving and assume that the other driver’s mistakes are not personal. • Avoid driving in the spirit of retaliation or competing with other drivers. Do not accelerate, brake, swerve suddenly or follow the other driver.
• Try to relax, stay calm and be patient. • Take a deep breath and move out of the way. Remember: It is not your responsibility to teach other drivers a lesson and you may be in the wrong.
Road Rage Tips • If you are still angry or someone is acting aggressively towards you: Avoid eye contact, exchanging words, making obscene gestures or expressing anger in any way. • If you are the victim of road rage: Never lead a road rage aggressor to your place of residence. Drive to the closest police station or to a busy area to seek assistance. Use your horn if necessary. • If someone approaches your vehicle acting aggressively: - Drive away if you can do so safely. - Close and lock your windows. - Do not exit your vehicle for any reason. - Do not issue or respond to verbal taunts. - Get a description of the vehicle and occupant(s) including licence plate.
Reporting Driving Complaints
If you observe someone driving dangerously, call Police right away. If you have a driving complaint fill out a Road Watch form. Road Watch forms are available at all Regional and Provincial police facilities in the Region of Peel. Road Watch forms are also available over the internet at www.roadwatch.ca. Better yet, carry one in your car.
