The most common causes of road rage and how to prevent it

This is the moment a BMW driver slams a motorcyclist off a bridge in an “extreme example of road rage” before crashing head-first into an oncoming car.

Nikesh Mistry, 34, was jailed for four years and 10 months over the incident in Milton Keynes, in which the motorbike rider and the front passenger of the other car suffered serious injuries.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving and one count of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mistry was driving a silver BMW 320 on November 19, 2022, when an incident occurred with the motorcyclist, a man in his 40s, at the Walton roundabout.

A non-verbal exchange ensued between the two drivers, after which Mistry swerved at the motorcyclist in an attempt to force him off the road, eventually crushing the motorcycle between his car and a metal bridge barrier.

CCTV footage shows the motorcyclist flying into the brush below as Mistry collides head-on with an oncoming car. Investigating officer PC Phil McGlue called the incident “an extreme example of road rage”.

Here, Yahoo News explains the most common causes of road rage and how to avoid it.

The most common causes of road rage, according to the AA

While “road rage” is a broad term, making it difficult to trace back to a single root cause, the AA says most incidents are likely to boil down to two main components – “a bad decision or mistake coupled with a bad response” .

“Someone does something stupid and you overreact, you do something stupid and they overreact and so on,” adds the breakdown cover company.

To find out the most common triggers for these moments of anger, AA surveyed 18,000 of its members. Of those, 26 percent said they were frustrated by people driving too close to them, making tailgating the most common reason for road rage. Here’s how the drivers responded:

• Tailgating (26%)

• Talking on mobile (25%)

• Middle lane placement (23%)

• Swooping – i.e. moving across multiple lanes at the last second to take a freeway exit (10%)

• Overtaking on the inside (7%)

• Driving slowly (3%), speeding (3%), littering (3%)

Another survey by insurance company Compare the Market also notes a lack of directions, being cut off, cars pulling onto a road with no space and thus blocking it, and speed as common triggers.

They also cite “cyclists” as the reason for their anger, with police in Poole, Dorset, currently appealing for witnesses after a “hit and run” incident in which a man was thrown from his bike after telling a driver to no longer use. their phone.

How to prevent road rage

• Breathe deeply: If you wake up angry about something that happened on the road, start by taking a deep breath into your belly and exhale slowly, advises our vehicle supplier OSV. You can find some breathing techniques here and there are plenty of articles and podcasts online that you can use for guidance.

• Turn down the music: If you listen to fast or aggressive music, it probably won’t help you calm down. Try turning it down or wearing something more relaxed. Listening to podcasts is another good way to keep your mind busy when you’re stuck in traffic.

• Remember to take your time: As well as remembering this, it’s worth remembering all the other drivers on the road who would also rather be somewhere else than stuck in traffic. As OSV says, “Getting angry won’t make things easier for you or them.”

• Leave early or plan your trip in advance: If you tend to get angry when you’re late, leave a little early, plan your trip in advance and generally make things as easy as possible for yourself, for example by packing everything you need the night before and making sure your vehicle has enough fuel.

• Enough sleep: Not getting enough sleep can have a negative impact on your well-being and make you irritable, stressed and more prone to road rage.

• Get off the road: As My Car Credit advises, if you’ve been in a road rage incident and it’s safe to do so, pull over and give yourself time to calm down before continuing your journey.

• Take a moment before reacting and learn to let go: Try not to act impulsively when you feel a moment of frustration. Take a step back and reflect and you’ll be able to respond more carefully, Compare the Market advises. We all make mistakes along the way, so learning to forgive and forget is a useful skill to hone.

How to avoid becoming a victim of road rage

• Excuse: Admitting your mistake and saying sorry can go a long way in de-escalating a situation, says OSV. Even if you really don’t think you’re in the wrong, sometimes being the bigger person and apologizing anyway might be the best course of action, as frustrating as it may be.

• Avoid making the situation worse: As tempting as it may be to give an irritating or antagonistic driver a taste of their own medicine, for example, by slowing down or breaking suddenly while you’re leaning, it’s likely to make both of you feel more agitated.

• Do not leave the vehicle: If the other driver gets out of the car to confront you, don’t do the same, as it may escalate the situation. Make sure the doors are locked just to be safe. If you feel that you are in danger, then walk away, but try to stay calm while doing so, without going too fast. Call the police if necessary.

• Ignore aggressive drivers: Avoid eye contact when interacting with angry drivers as it will likely make things worse, advises My Car Credit.

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