Driving Aggression

Introduction• On August 24th, 2011, a Vancouver motorist was

punched by an irate driver. The irate driver then used his vehicle to ram and pin the victim between the two vehicles. http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110823/bc_road_rage_updat_110823/20110823?

hub=BritishColumbiaHome

• Between 1998 and 2000, 59 road rage incidents were reported in Canadian newspapers1

• Although serious forms of road rage may be relatively rare, other forms of driver aggression such as horn honking and tailgating appear to be more prevalent2

Inaccurate Definitions of Driving Aggression

• Aggressive driving has been referred to in a number of ways: road rage, reckless driving, dangerous driving, risky driving, assertive driving, and driver violence

• NHTSA defined aggressive driving as the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner which “endangers or is likely to endanger people or property”3

• “Road rage” should not be used in technical writing and it should be replaced by “aggressive driving” and “driver violence”4

Accurate Definitions of Driving Aggression

• Driver aggression has been defined as any behavior intended to physically, emotionally, or psychologically harm another within the driving environment (Hennessy & Wiesenthal, 2001).

• Operational definitions: – Driver violence – Violations of the criminal code:

• assault, threatening harm, pointing firearms, etc.

– Aggressive driving - Violations of highway traffic laws:• failing to dim high-beam headlights, tailgating, reckless

driving, failing to yield, speeding, etc.

Theoretical Model of Aggression

• General Aggression Model (Anderson & Bushman, 2002)

Situation Factors

• Congestion

• Anonymity

• Injustice

• Roadway Features

• Environmental Conditions

Person Factors: Biology, Personality, & Attitudes• Biology: Gender and Age• Personality:

– Trait Aggression– Trait Anger– Impulsivity– Sensation-Seeking– Narcissism– Classic Big 5 Traits : Neuroticism

Agreeableness Conscientiousness

• Attitudes: Aggression and Justice

Internal States

• Cognitions– Perceptions of Injustice– Perceptions of Risk

• Certainty• Severity

• Emotion– Anger

Outcome:Prevalence of Aggressive Driving• Goehring (2000) reported 90% of AAA members

witnessed an aggressive driving incident over a year

• A survey of 1,395 Ontario residents5

≈ 50% had been being shouted at, cursed at, or had rude hand gestures directed towards them

> 7% were threatened with damage to their vehicle or physical injury

• A content analysis of 5315 online complaints identified 1746 complaints that mentioned aggressive behaviour6

Roadway Justice:Making Angry Drivers, Happy Drivers

James E. W. RoseboroughDavid L. Wiesenthal

York University, Toronto, Canada

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Introduction

• Police enforcement may have several influences1. Individuals may be less likely to violate laws after being punished2. Witnesses of police enforcement may be less likely violate laws3. Witnessing police enforcement may reduce negative feelings

resulting from a perceived injustice

• Injustice occurs when an individual believes they have not received what they deserve

• The perception of injustice can cause uncomfortable and distressing emotional states.

• Injustice while driving may lead to driving stress, driving anger, and driving aggression.

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Purpose

•The goal of the current study was to determine the

influence of justice on feelings of anger and happiness in

victims of unjust driving behaviours.

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Methodology

• Participants• 279 undergraduate students

• 141 females and 138 males• Ranged in age from 17 to 43 years old• Held a driver’s license for 5 months to 10 years

• Procedure• Written Vignette, Video Clips, & Measures

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Methodology

• Participants• Procedure

• Online study• Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and

viewed 4 animated video clips coupled with questionnaires• Illegal left turn• 4-way-stop violation• Queuing violation• Red-light violation

• Written Vignette, Video Clips, & Measures

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Methodology

• Participants• Procedure

• Written Vignette, Video Clips, & Measures• Written Vignette

In your green car, you have been waiting to make a left-turn for quite some time. Due to the large amount of oncoming traffic only a couple of cars are able to turn left on each light. As your light turns green two cars in front of you enter the intersection. As you move closer towards the intersection, a red car in the lane to your right slows down with its turn signal and tries to merge into your lane• Animated Video Clip

• Affect Questionnaire

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Methodology

• Participants• Procedure• Written Vignette, Video Clips, & Measures

• Written Vignette• Animated Video Clip• Affect Questionnaire

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Methodology

• Participants• Procedure• Written Vignette, Video Clips, & Measures

• Written Vignette• Animated Video Clip• Affect Questionnaire• Likert-scale measuring anger and happiness pre- and post-justice

• Illegal left turn - Car stopped by police vehicle• 4-way-stop violation - Car collided with another vehicle• Queuing violation - Car collided with another vehicle• Red-light violation - Red-light camera at intersection

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Results

Mean scores of anger and happiness responses to pre- and post-justice

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Discussion & Conclusion

• Purpose of this study was to examine the influence of justice on emotion

• Unjust driving behaviours lead to negative emotions in individuals who were victims of or witnesses to said behaviours

• Witnessing the application of justice post-offence reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions

• The application of justice by police had greatest impact, decreasing anger and increasing happiness

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Safe Roads for Everyone, Coming Together From All Directions

• Results suggest that justice, especially law enforcement by authorities has a substantial impact on feelings of anger and happiness

• Increasing police enforcement on roadways and notifying the public of such enforcement may lead to reduced driver stress and driver anger

• Signage notifying motorists of red-light cameras may have similar influences

• Media could be used to inform the public about the efficacy of enforcement, with the intention of creating a sense of roadway justice

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Acknowledgements

• This could not have been possible without the support, advice, and reviews from the following:

Dr. Robert Cribbie – York University

Dr. Gordon Flett – York University

Dr. Esther Greenglass – York University

Dr. Louise Ripley – York University

Dr. Christine Wickens – C.A.M.H. – Toronto

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Questions