Driven Insane

DRIVEN INSANE WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE. The driver behind us is tailgating, the driver to our left won't let us over, and the driver in front is blabbing on their cell phone and driving 10 miles below the speed limit. Sometimes it's difficult not to fly off the handle. But aggressive driving, better known as "road rage," is the leading cause of traffic deaths and, unfortunately, incredibly common. Let's take a look at the science behind road rage, as well as statistical trends and the worst states in the U.S. for road rage incidents. IT'S DEADLY 6,800,000 THE NUMBER OF CAR CRASHES ***** ***** MORE THAN THAT OCCUR ANNUALLY IN THE U.S. HALF FATAL CAR CRASHES THAT ARE +1 THE RESULT OF AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. MOST COMMON PROVOKING BEHAVIORS: THE WORST OFFENDERS ARE MALES 19 AND YOUNGER. OBSCENE GESTURES TAILGATING HEADLIGHT FLASHING CELL PHONE USE EXCESSIVE HORN USE IT'S GROWING 2013 51% THE INCREASE IN ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS SINCE 1990 1990 IT'S WORSE IN CERTAIN AREAS MANY PEOPLE CAN PROBABLY GUESS WHAT SOME OF THE WORST STATES ARE REGARDING ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS. HERE ISA LIST OF THE TOP 10 CITIES WHEN CONSIDERING TRAFFIC, COMMUTER TIME, ACCIDENT RATES, REPORTED ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS AND POPULATION. NEW YORK CITY 1 2 CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES BOSTON 5 6 WASHINGTON D.C. OAKLAND 7 8 HONOLULU PORTLAND 9 10 PHILADELPHÍA IT'S PHYSIOLOGICAL LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN OUR BODIES WHEN WE BECOME ENRAGED. IT MAY SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE RECKLESS AND IMPULSIVE DECISIONS MANY DRIVERS MAKE WHEN YOUR HEART BEATS ANGERED ON THE ROAD. FASTER, PUMPING OXYGEN, ADRENALINE YOUR MUSCLES TENSE. AND SUGAR INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM. TESTOSTERONE LEVELS INCREASE. YOUR BREATHING QUICKENS. YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE RISES. THE LEFT PART OF THE BRAIN IS STIMULATED. SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE WHAT IS BEING PRONE TO OUTBURSTS CALLED "INTERMITTENT EXPLOSIVE DISORDER." IT AFFECTS 7.3% OF ADULTS OF EXPLOSIVE ANGER CAN AND CAN ACCOUNT FOR MANY ACTS OF ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED A ROAD RAGE. IT CAUSES EXAGGERATED, SUDDEN FEELINGS OF RAGE THAT CAN BE DISORDER IN SOME CASES. THE CATALYSTS FOR VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. IT'S EMOTIONAL YOUR BODY ISN'T JUST AFFECTED PHYSICALLY. WHEN YOU BECOME ANGRY, YOUR EMOTIONS FLARE AND WREAK EQUAL HAVOC ON YOUR ACTIONS. FEELING LIKE YOU'VE BEEN PERSONALLY OFFENDED OR SLIGHTED HAS A BIG IMPACT ON YOUR PSYCHE. GENEROSITY IS EASIER TO FORGET, BUT OFFENSIVE ACTIONS STICK IN THE BRAIN. THIS LEADS TO DWELLING, WHICH ONLY ESCALATES ANGER. PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXAGGERATE FEELINGS OF HURT THAN FEELINGS OF HAPPINESS. STRESS IS A MAIN COMPONENT IN ROAD RAGE. THERE IS A REASON WHY A MAJORITY OF ROAD RAGE INCIDENTS OCCUR DURING RUSH HOUR. THE MORE STRESS A DRIVER IS UNDER, THE MORE EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT THEY ARE AND THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO SUCCUMB TO AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. STRESS HEIGHTENS OUR POTENTIAL FOR AGGRESSION AND CAUSES A "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" RESPONSE THAT CAN LEAD TO HOSTILE SPONTANEITY. IT'S AVOIDABLE THOUGH MANY PEOPLE HAVE A NATURALLY SHORT FUSE AND ARE PRONE TO BOUTS OF RAGE EASILY, THERE ARE THINGS THAT A DRIVER CAN KEEP IN MIND TO KEEP FROM DRIVING AGGRESSIVELY. AVOIDING AGGRESSION WHILE DRIVING TRY TO THINK OF THE OTHER CARS PLAY RELAXING MUSIC or perhaps even a comedy CD. Anything to lighten the mood inside of your vehicle. on the road as other humans, not other machines. Act as though you were walking in a crowded area; you probably wouldn't give the middle finger to someone who accidentally walked in front of you, especially if they apologized. .. IF OTHERS ARE RIDING with you, make light or funny conversation with them. 1...20 REMEMBER TO BREATHE and if provoked, count to 20. This will ensure that you consider your reaction before acting on a whim. RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE AROUND YOU are also prone to acting impulsively and that their actions or offensive gestures are not personal attacks. SOURCES http://www.nhtsa.gov • http://www.safeny.ny.gov - https://www.aaafoundation.org http://www.livescience.com - http://www.scientificamerican.com - http://www.forbes.com http://cranepsych.edublogs.org http://www.livescience.com - http://www.medicalnewstoday.com http://www.ndcounseling.net BESTCOUNSELINGDEGREES.NET