Last June, at a busy street corner on Capitol Hill, an automobile driver and a young bicyclist got into a shouting match during the morning commute. Not unusual for the Washington, DC rush hour. But, according to a Washington Post story, it devolved from there. The driver, a retired Navy lieutenant and a vice president at the Heritage Foundation, then got out of his car and - as the two continued to scream at each other - allegedly shoved the 23 year-old, 105-pound woman to the ground while she was still straddled on her bicycle, got back into his car, floored it and took off.

Road rage is a term that has been used to describe the angry and violent behaviors at the extreme end of aggressive driving. Examples of aggressive driving include: tailgating, driving at excessive speeds, weaving through traffic, and running stoplights and signs. When aggressive driving escalates to gesturing in anger or yelling at another motorist, confrontation, physical assault or even murder we call it road rage.

Is It Occurring More Often?

People have reported aggressive driving since the beginning of motorized transport. Anyone who has spent time driving these days has probably experienced the rudeness of other drivers. However, throughout most of the twentieth century, the incidences of aggressive driving were quite rare. By the 1990’s, this seemed to have changed and news reports of aggressive driving began to capture the attention of the public elevating the problem to national attention. Did our civility and respect for one another really change?

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that, while cases of road rage still remain relatively infrequent, aggressive driving is, in fact, occurring much more often and that it is a significant contributing factor to traffic accidents. There are several reasons for the increase in aggression on the roads.

First, the number of miles traveled in the 1990’s increased by 27 percent but the number of miles of roadway increased by only one percent. The fact of the matter is that traffic congestion has increased significantly. This causes traffic delays. Some drivers, with low tolerances for delays respond by following too closely, changing lanes frequently, or becoming angry with anyone who impedes their progress.

Some people drive more aggressively because they have too much to do and are “running late” for work, school, or a meeting. The obligations, responsibilities and stresses of modern life can weigh heavily on some individuals and can contribute to a pattern of aggressive driving.

There is also evidence that some drivers develop a sense of anonymity and detachment in their car. Shielded from the environment by tinted glass and internal climate control, this feeling of separateness can erode the inhibitions to antisocial behavior that normally shape our relationships. In other words, some people may feel less constrained in their behavior when they feel they cannot be seen by others or are unlikely to see the person to whom their behavior is directed ever again. This feeling of anonymity, in combination with the seemingly invincible power of the motor vehicle, can result in extreme rudeness.

Other factors mentioned by researchers and in news accounts that might contribute to aggression on the roads include: disregard for others and the law, chronic anger, the human need for “space” that causes some drivers to be territorial, increased commuting distances and durations, and a cultural propensity to promote and reward competitive and tenacious behavior.

What Can We Do About It?

There are several ways you can help to combat aggressive driving and road rage:

• First, don’t become part of the problem. Perhaps the best way to cope with aggressive drivers is not to become one. Practice basic driving courtesy. Don’t engage in risk taking behaviors, such as tailgating, making obscene gestures and speeding.

• Second, work to reduce your stress level. Increased stress often leads to increased hostility on the road. Try listening to soothing music or a book on tape when you drive. Leave plenty of time for your trip because rushing can increase the tendency to drive aggressively.

• Third, try assuming that other driver’s mistakes are not personal. Consider showing compassion for your fellow drivers – could it be that someone is having a bad day or facing a difficult situation and not coping well?

• Fourth, remind yourself that getting angry isn’t worth it. Anger is likely to do more harm to you and your body than it is to anyone else. Anger weakens the immune system and can leave your body more vulnerable to illness.

• Fifth, be polite even if the other driver is rude. Politeness can help to diffuse the anger that feeds road rage.

• Sixth, if you find that your anger is not easily controlled, consider whether anger is an issue for you in other types of circumstances.  Not all anger is uncontrolled or even inappropriate – but chronic anger is not healthy and should be addressed.

Finally, with more drivers driving more miles on the same roads than ever before, it is fairly predictable that there would be an increase in rude and outrageous behavior. Assuming that there will be little increase in new roadways in the immediate future, it is likely that we will continue to struggle with the problem of aggressive driving and road rage for some time to come. This means our choices are fairly clear: either find a way to deal with our anger and frustration over congestion and traffic delays or learn to live in a much more dangerous world, where aggressive drivers act out their uncontrolled feelings of rage on all who are near them.

Ronda Bresnick Hauss is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of the Quiet Waters Center for Trauma, Stress and Resilience, on Capitol Hill. She uses an integrative & holistic approach to psychotherapy – addressing the connection between the mind, body and spirit through the use of traditional talk therapy, hypnosis, meditation, visualization, and creative, non-verbal techniques.  She can be reached at 202-544-5050.