Why do people get angry driving?

kevthegaff

I know everyone is gona mention what other drivers do, but I'm always wondering why some people get so narky when driving. It seems to be always a pretty bad driver too!

Sunnyisland

Frustration,In a hurry,being selfish,projecting there anger from elsewhere in there lives,Always in the right,Don't read or understand the rules of the road, or having any common decency when driving and maybe trying to understand that not everyone is as good as them.

krank

Some people just don't like driving. They see no point to it except for a means to get from A to B. It's a chore that puts them in a bad mood.

I used to get annoyed often enough at the stupidity of some other drivers but I made the decision to stop. No point getting worked up over things you've no control over.

woodseb

other drivers' stupidity has the potential to cost me time and money and also injure me in some cases

it's perfectly rational to get angry when presented with some situations when driving

The Big Red Button

kevthegaff wrote: »

I know everyone is gona mention what other drivers do, but I'm always wondering why some people get so narky when driving. It seems to be always a pretty bad driver too!

I often get angry when I see other drivers engaging in stupid/dangerous behaviour, that might often cause accidents.

I think it's normal to get angry - I mean, every day you're on the roads (as a driver, passenger, cyclist, pedestrian, whatever), you're absolutely putting your life in other peoples' hands. So, when people see drivers doing something dangerous, of course it'll cause worry/anger in other drivers.

If you let this sort of thing affect your own driving, that's what makes a bad driver. Personally I might get pissed off at the person causing the problems, but I'll just make sure to keep my distance from them on the road.

inforfun

Because the roads are full of ****wits who never learned to drive properly themselves and who in their turn moved on to be the accompanying driver/instructor for the new learner drivers.

I was in Holland recently and it was nice to see people waiting to change lanes or enter a motorway till there was actually time and space to do so in stead of just using the indicator and change lane no matter if there is space or time to do so.

Gary ITR

I used to drive around Dublin City Centre as part of my job, I quickly learned that getting angry is a completely pointless exercise. So now I chill out and just roll with the stupidity. Driving around while angry or shouting is just asking for trouble, my ex drove into a wall because she lost concentration after getting angry.

Anan1

woodseb wrote: »

other drivers' stupidity has the potential to cost me time and money and also injure me in some cases

it's perfectly rational to get angry when presented with some situations when driving

It's not, because anger doesn't help. Getting angry increases the chances of your getting delayed/injured.

In answer to the OP, it's always some variation on human weakness. People don't have nearly as much control over their own actions as we like to think.

mawk

its a drop in communication compared to dealing with people.

cars have no body language to subconsciously apologise for inconveniences. so its impossible to have empathy for them even if you know intellectually that a person is diving them.

djimi

Im human nature. Id love to meet the person who is able to remain completely calm after some prat charges out in front of them and proceeds to drive at 15mph or the dickhead who takes 2 minutes to get their brain in gear at traffic lights, meaning you up sitting at them for another sequence. Anyone who says that things like this do not boil their blood when driving is telling porky pies, simple as.

Its just a case of having to contol those emotions. Theres nothing wrong with shouting at the prick who has just pulled out in front of you causing you to jam on the brakes, just so long as it is just one outburst and then breathe, and it doesnt turn into a full on war of fist waving, tailgating and lights flashing/horn blowing!

Anan1

djimi wrote: »

Im human nature. Id love to meet the person who is able to remain completely calm after some prat charges out in front of them and proceeds to drive at 15mph or the dickhead who takes 2 minutes to get their brain in gear at traffic lights, meaning you up sitting at them for another sequence. Anyone who says that things like this do not boil their blood when driving is telling porky pies, simple as.

Its just a case of having to contol those emotions. Theres nothing wrong with shouting at the prick who has just pulled out in front of you causing you to jam on the brakes, just so long as it is just one outburst and then breathe, and it doesnt turn into a full on war of fist waving, tailgating and lights flashing/horn blowing!

On a related angle, i've seen quite a few drivers get angry while letting whatever it is happen. A friend of mine, whenever someone pulled out in front of him, used to jam on the brakes and blow the horn. Forget about the horn, keep going and the other person will stop. The point being that angry people make poor decisions.

pedro7

The only thing that annoys me is people drvining really really slowly.... E.g. 80kmph on a 100kmph road in the middle lane on the M50!!!! Dangerous too.

Zubeneschamali

If someone behaves like a dick as a pedestrian, shouldering people aside, skipping queues, running through crowds yelling "out of my way, peasants!", stopping suddenly so that people behind bump into each other, walking in step behind you, breathing down your neck: he'd get punched several times a day.

But some people drive that way all the time, and there is no real consequence, except that some of the rest of us get angry.

Mr Benevolent

woodseb wrote: »

other drivers' stupidity has the potential to cost me time and money and also injure me in some cases

it's perfectly rational to get angry when presented with some situations when driving

Anger is rarely rational, and it's a dangerous emotion while driving as it usually makes a situation worse. There was a thread on this in AH recently, and one frequent poster said "I'm an angry driver - I don't know how some people got their licences." I didn't bother pointing out the contradiction inherent in that sentence.

Personally, I've learned a lot in the 17 months since I started driving, and the main lesson for me is that impatience is extremely dangerous as it clouds judgement like nothing else. My second test is coming up in a month, hopefully this time I'll be more sensible.

650Ginge

djimi wrote: »

Im human nature. Id love to meet the person who is able to remain completely calm after some prat charges out in front of them and proceeds to drive at 15mph or the dickhead who takes 2 minutes to get their brain in gear at traffic lights, meaning you up sitting at them for another sequence. Anyone who says that things like this do not boil their blood when driving is telling porky pies, simple as.

Its just a case of having to contol those emotions. Theres nothing wrong with shouting at the prick who has just pulled out in front of you causing you to jam on the brakes, just so long as it is just one outburst and then breathe, and it doesnt turn into a full on war of fist waving, tailgating and lights flashing/horn blowing!

It doesn't bother me, as it rarely ever happens.

Don't tar everyone with the same angry person brush that lives in you.

I gave up aggressive behaviour in the car, it took a number of potentially very dangerous incidents and growing up but eventually put it behind me. I still pass a lot of comment on others driving but I never need to engage them at any level. Makes for a much more enjoyable drive for everyone.

_Kaiser_

Anan1 wrote: »

On a related angle, i've seen quite a few drivers get angry while letting whatever it is happen. A friend of mine, whenever someone pulled out in front of him, used to jam on the brakes and blow the horn. Forget about the horn, keep going and the other person will stop. The point being that angry people make poor decisions.

That's a pretty big assumption to be making there - you're presuming that the offender has seen you and is pulling out anyway and not waffling on their mobile or something.

Me I do a combination of the two. I've no problem leaning on the horn/flashing headlights when needed, but will continue on while still ready to stop/move if they don't get the hint.

Of course, if you can read the road you can normally predict who will do this and be ready for it. EG: When overtaking on a motorway, I can usually tell who will pull out in front of me from the inside lane when they come up behind another car, and who will back off and wait their turn before pulling out behind me.

Anan1

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

That's a pretty big assumption to be making there - you're presuming that the offender has seen you and is pulling out anyway and not waffling on their mobile or something.

I was there.:)

langdang

I've posted this before, but still think it's great - sums up whatever psychological change happens when someone sits into their metal box:

http://theoatmeal.com/pl/minor_differences/cutting_off

woodseb

Confab wrote: »

Anger is rarely rational, and it's a dangerous emotion while driving as it usually makes a situation worse. There was a thread on this in AH recently, and one frequent poster said "I'm an angry driver - I don't know how some people got their licences." I didn't bother pointing out the contradiction inherent in that sentence.

Personally, I've learned a lot in the 17 months since I started driving, and the main lesson for me is that impatience is extremely dangerous as it clouds judgement like nothing else. My second test is coming up in a month, hopefully this time I'll be more sensible.

anger can be very rational - how would you react if someone nearly runs you off the road when you are driving along safely with your kids in the back

how you deal with anger is another issue, some people lose control, fly of the handle, try to make dangerous overtaking etc, while others make just tut to themselves or curse away but not alter their driving style

Anan1

woodseb wrote: »

anger can be very rational - how would you react if someone nearly runs you off the road when you are driving along safely with your kids in the back

how you deal with anger is another issue, some people lose control, fly of the handle, try to make dangerous overtaking etc, while others make just tut to themselves or curse away but not alter their driving style

I think you're confusing understandable/justifiable with rational. Anger behind the wheel is never rational. Getting angry with your kids in the back endangers them.

jackofalltrades

I think experiencing anger when driving is perfectly understandable and healthy. Every driver does it, it's not just limited to bad drivers.

It dangerous when it starts to affect your driving. If someone cuts you up and it annoys you for the rest of the day or your get into a heated argument and then driver more aggressively due to this anger then you have a problem. I used to have a problem with getting to wound up by other drivers. Now I just acknowledge what's annoyed me by verbalising it and then I let it go. I don't get half as annoyed as I used to.

It does lead to some confused looks from passengers when I'm quietly cursing other people out of it.

Tallon

Anan1 wrote: »

I was there.:)

Every time? You said he 'used to' 'whenever'...

Ardent

I see a lot of stupidity on the roads while driving to/from work and I just let it slide. No point getting angry and stressed out either side of a working day! The only time I ever experienced road rage was when a cyclist kicked my car - thinking about it now, I should have run the f**ker over!

SerialComplaint

Ardent wrote: »

The only time I ever experienced road rage was when a cyclist kicked my car - thinking about it now, I should have run the f**ker over!

Come on, tell the full story - how closely did you overtake him or cut him off before he kicked your car? I'm not defending his aggression, but surely there was some background or reason behind it.

Ardent

SerialComplaint wrote: »

Come on, tell the full story - how closely did you overtake him or cut him off before he kicked your car? I'm not defending his aggression, but surely there was some background or reason behind it.

It was slow moving traffic but the guy obviously felt I was encroaching on his lane. But if you know the cycle lanes in Dublin city centre, you'll know that in some places they are painted in at the expense of of the existing vehicle lane.

antonymous

realies wrote: »

Frustration,In a hurry,being selfish,projecting there anger from elsewhere in there lives,Always in the right,Don't read or understand the rules of the road, or having any common decency when driving and maybe trying to understand that not everyone is as good as them.

Wow, sums up a mate of mine exactly, incredibly aggro driver, actually boasts about it. I think its down to the fact the guy is 30, at home with mammy, and hasn't been laid since he was 17... Yet somehow its the other drivers fault

SerialComplaint

Ardent wrote: »

It was slow moving traffic but the guy obviously felt I was encroaching on his lane. But if you know the cycle lanes in Dublin city centre, you'll know that in some places they are painted in at the expense of of the existing vehicle lane.

I see. So you tried to drive him off the road because you think cars have some special entitlement to road space over other road users. Now I understand why he kicked out. He was wrong to kick out, but I do understand why.

VictorRomeo

people like this

VictorRomeo wrote: »

I find that a continuous spray of my window washer makes them back off...

Really annoying for them so it is....

The kind of tailgater I'm talking about is the kind that's right up yer jacksie on a very busy N/M4 and there's nowhere to go....

Funny story.... I was on the M4 about a year ago and this knob in an E-Class Merc tore right up to me.... I was travelling and a good speed on the motorway but was about to move over when he then went right up me flashing and honking.... He had room to get around if he really wanted to. So I 'slowly' slowed down - not braked mind you - and started my windscreen spray.... He started going nuts and weaving and bobbing behind me.... I'd say he got to about an inch of my rear.... Then, he swung out and pushed hard past me. I could see what was coming next.... His manouver was to swing right in front of me and brake hard.... but quick as a flash I whipped out left but he braked too hard.... I saw the look of panic on his face as I passed him by on the left and he realised that he braked into the path of another car...... Made my day...... I felt sorry for the car he nearly wrecked though..... If I hadn't pulled out he'd have creamed us both.... Well, I reckon my XC90 would have stood a better chance.....

VictorRomeo wrote: »

a: Yeah the look of panic on his face when he realised his fail was frickin' funny ha ha.

b: I could not immediatly - there and then - move out of his way without slowing down.

c: I don't do bullies and won't be intimidated by them. In or out of my car.

d: I'd do it again. Tailgaters are a$$holes.

Odysseus

Anan1 wrote: »

I think you're confusing understandable/justifiable with rational. Anger behind the wheel is never rational. Getting angry with your kids in the back endangers them.

Acting out on that anger endangers the kids, not getting angry itself. There is a big difference there.

djimi

650Ginge wrote: »

It doesn't bother me, as it rarely ever happens.

Don't tar everyone with the same angry person brush that lives in you.

I gave up aggressive behaviour in the car, it took a number of potentially very dangerous incidents and growing up but eventually put it behind me. I still pass a lot of comment on others driving but I never need to engage them at any level. Makes for a much more enjoyable drive for everyone.

I dont believe for a second that there arent things that happen in the course of driving that makes you swear at the car in front. Do you really expect me to believe that when the old dear in the Micra ignores a stop sign and pulls out into your path, causing you to jam on the brakes, and then proceeds to drive at 15mph down the road in front of you, that you just sit there and smile about it? Get real...

Theres a difference between anger and road rage. We all swear at other drivers at times; there is nothing wrong with this. Doesnt mean that it has to develop into full on road rage.

_Kaiser_

bluewolf wrote: »

people like this

Have to disagree with you there. By the sound of it the E-class driver was a complete a$$ and I wouldn't have let him bully his way past me either if I was driving at speed and overtaking someone else at the time.

Like children you can't reward bad behavior and idiots like that I'd rather have behind me than in front of me. What happens if 200m up the road, the next person he then tries to intimidate hits the brakes hard or panics and does something stupid - then I've a possible multi-car pileup to deal with.

And sure you could say "it's not your job to police the roads" but seeing as those whose job it IS are more concerned with doing people for going 10km over the limit on the open motorway, then - as I've said before - I'll take whatever action I deem necessary (short of Mad Max style stuff :P) to keep myself, my passengers and my car safe.. thankfully persistent tailgaters like Victor's Merc driver are still a rarity.. most back off when you lift off the pedal enough to make the point.

I agree with djimi though.. I don't believe for a second all this zen "let them on regardless of what they do" stuff some people come out with in threads like this

The poster said they were about to move over, but decided to stay and deliberately antagonise the merc instead. That is not good driving behaviour and they nearly caused a pileup behind them with their messing. They then said it was funny and they'd do it again.
it's shocking behaviour

it's nothing to do with rewarding bad behaviour - you're not parent of the roads ffs. If you're that concerned about their driving, report them, not play stupid games with them because you've appointed yourself in charge
For all anyone knew it could have been a genuine emergency.

Ardent

SerialComplaint wrote: »

I see. So you tried to drive him off the road...

Did I say that, or are you drawing your own conclusions? Anyway, forget it, I'm not going to help you derail this thread with your rubbish.

_Kaiser_

bluewolf wrote: »

it's nothing to do with rewarding bad behaviour - you're not parent of the roads ffs. If you're that concerned about their driving, report them, not play stupid games with them because you've appointed yourself in charge
For all anyone knew it could have been a genuine emergency.

Read what I said about enforcement - our AGS girls n boys take very little interest in this sort of thing (in fact, they can often be offenders themselves as a similar tale on the N4 I could tell you would attest to), nor do local stations seem too interested either ... tried that too!

Just because you have an emergency doesn't give you the right to try bullying and intimidating others off the road - by the sound of it the Merc driver in question doesn't fit that either though as he had enough time on his hands to try and get "revenge" on Victor once he did get past him

_Kaiser_

bluewolf wrote: »

The poster said they were about to move over, but decided to stay and deliberately antagonise the merc instead. That is not good driving behaviour and they nearly caused a pileup behind them with their messing. They then said it was funny and they'd do it again.
it's shocking behaviour

On the first point... the Merc came up behind him flashing and beeping and generally making an a$$ of himself. I wouldn't be inclined to rush out of his way either to be honest. As I already mentioned above, it obviously wasn't THAT important if he decided to try and "teach Victor a lesson" when he did bully his way past.

dodderangler

Why do people get angry driving?
5 simple words


GET OFF YOUR FCUKIN PHONE!!!!!

irelandrover

inforfun wrote: »

I was in Holland recently and it was nice to see people waiting to change lanes or enter a motorway till there was actually time and space to do so in stead of just using the indicator and change lane no matter if there is space or time to do so.

I've heard this said about the Dutch a lot. I don't know where it comes from. I drive in holland and hour each way to work every day and i get cut off at least once a day.
They even joke in Germany that if you fail your test 5 times they give you a yellow license plate.

_Kaiser_

dodderangler wrote: »

Why do people get angry driving?
5 simple words


GET OFF YOUR FCUKIN PHONE!!!!!

+1 .. or buy a bloody handsfree kit (start at very cheap to a full system so no excuse)

Anan1

Tallon wrote: »

Every time? You said he 'used to' 'whenever'...

All I can swear to is a clear pattern.

Anan1

Odysseus wrote: »

Acting out on that anger endangers the kids, not getting angry itself. There is a big difference there.

If only - we see a lot more, and more clearly when we're not angry.

Andy454

80km Stretches of 3 lane motorway

Speed vans patrolling 80km stretches of 3 lane motorways

100km speed limits on 60km bends

Petrol stations charging 170cent a litre for petrol

Carbon tax

The greens

The removal of english translations in gaeltacht signs

Motor tax

Motor tax rises

Jaysoose

On the m50 northbound yesterday approaching the toll i was overtaking a truck in the middle lane..dude in bmw bombs up behind me and i figure he can obviously see im overtaking and will be out of his way in a few seconds..nope he leans on the horn and flashes his lights..im not proud of what i done next.

Waited till he was on my bumper and slowed down to the same speed as the truck and trapped the angry beemer guy for a good minute before completing my overtaking and getting off at the blanch exit. I thought the guy was gonna have a rage stroke..dont think he appreciated i was laughing at him.

Anan1

Jaysoose wrote: »

On the m50 northbound yesterday approaching the toll i was overtaking a truck in the middle lane..dude in bmw bombs up behind me and i figure he can obviously see im overtaking and will be out of his way in a few seconds..nope he leans on the horn and flashes his lights..im not proud of what i done next.

Waited till he was on my bumper and slowed down to the same speed as the truck and trapped the angry beemer guy for a good minute before completing my overtaking and getting off at the blanch exit. I thought the guy was gonna have a rage stroke..dont think he appreciated i was laughing at him.

That was pretty childish, TBH.

Tallon

Anan1 wrote: »

That was pretty childish, TBH.

Your 'friend' is not much better!

dodderangler

Jaysoose wrote: »

On the m50 northbound yesterday approaching the toll i was overtaking a truck in the middle lane..dude in bmw bombs up behind me and i figure he can obviously see im overtaking and will be out of his way in a few seconds..nope he leans on the horn and flashes his lights..im not proud of what i done next.

Waited till he was on my bumper and slowed down to the same speed as the truck and trapped the angry beemer guy for a good minute before completing my overtaking and getting off at the blanch exit. I thought the guy was gonna have a rage stroke..dont think he appreciated i was laughing at him.

I would've done the same myself mate
BMW drivers think they own the roads
+1 for u

Anan1

Tallon wrote: »

Your 'friend' is not much better!

?? My friend is a sh1t driver.

JerCotter7

dodderangler wrote: »

I would've done the same myself mate
BMW drivers think they own the roads
+1 for u

And you would be worse than the BMW driver. He flashed the lights to let someone know he was behind him. Beeping the horn was a bit far, but flashing the lights once is acceptable. Even flashing like a mad man and beeping isn't a reason to block up the whole motorway behind you. What if he was on his way to an emergency? You could cause an accident just as easily as him disrupting the flow of traffic out of spite.

Odysseus

Anan1 wrote: »

If only - we see a lot more, and more clearly when we're not angry.

Why the if only, it is only an emotion, how we acts on these is more significant in terms of behaviour; rather that their mere presence or absence.

dodderangler

JerCotter7 wrote: »

dodderangler wrote: »

I would've done the same myself mate
BMW drivers think they own the roads
+1 for u

And you would be worse than the BMW driver. He flashed the lights to let someone know he was behind him. Beeping the horn was a bit far, but flashing the lights once is acceptable. Even flashing like a mad man and beeping isn't a reason to block up the whole motorway behind you. What if he was on his way to an emergency? You could cause an accident just as easily as him disrupting the flow of traffic out of spite.

He could've caused a crash from speeding!!
So you think him speeding to an emergency is a perfect reason to be speeding?
Anyone could use that excuse

Jaysoose

JerCotter7 wrote: »

And you would be worse than the BMW driver. He flashed the lights to let someone know he was behind him. Beeping the horn was a bit far, but flashing the lights once is acceptable. Even flashing like a mad man and beeping isn't a reason to block up the whole motorway behind you. What if he was on his way to an emergency? You could cause an accident just as easily as him disrupting the flow of traffic out of spite.

Lets put in into context i was in the process of overtaking at 120kph and he was absolutely bombing it and even though it was clear what i was doing he decided to lean on the horn and flash me as if i was doing something wrong.

I did say i wasnt proud of it but at the end of the day he was acting like a prize dick and it would be 5-10 seconds he would be held up. It was childish on my part but then if i was a nervous driver he would have intimidated me to force his way past. Plus i despise bullies on every level.

DavyD_83

krank wrote: »

Some people just don't like driving. They see no point to it except for a means to get from A to B. It's a chore that puts them in a bad mood.

I used to get annoyed often enough at the stupidity of some other drivers but I made the decision to stop. No point getting worked up over things you've no control over.

I am one of these people. Driving, in itself, just makes me irritable.
I'm not as bad when doing distances or on motorways, usually because it seems like a valid way to cover these distances. Driving to the shop (through my own laziness, or cos i'm with gf) just puts me in a bad mood. twice as long, paying for petrol, and sitting in traffic to make a trip i could have enjoyed if i cycled.

That's it, i'm gonna start cycling everywhere again!
..... next week, i swear :rolleyes: