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U. S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

 NHTSA People Saving People
DOT HS 808 705
April 1998

Introduction

Background

Method

Findings

Detailed Findings

General Discussion

Specific Issues

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX B

 

List of Tables
1 Composition of Beltway Driver Groups
2 How Participants Use the Beltway
3 Perceived Causes of Beltway Crashes
4 Perceived Causes of Beltway Crashes - Commercial Drivers
5 Responses to Aggressiveness Screening Questions

List of Figures
1 Questionnaire Responses - General vs. Aggressive Drivers 


      
 

    		
     
      
Aggressive Driving

      
 As noted earlier 
        in this report, there were distinctive differences in perceptions between 
        the three sessions composed of a general mix of drivers and the two that 
        were designed to represent aggressive drivers. To fully understand their 
        perspective on other issues, it is helpful to compare the answers of drivers 
        included in the "aggressive" groups to those in the "general" 
        groups on the questions used to qualify drivers for inclusion in the aggressive 
        groups.

      
 The first two questions 
        were designed to measure frequency of getting angry in driving situations. 
        Although nearly all of the participants in both groups said they get angry 
        when they are cut off by another driver at least sometimes, 55 percent 
        of participants in the aggressive groups often or always get angry compared 
        to only 37 percent of the general drivers. Only 38 percent of participants 
        in the general groups admit that passengers sometimes tell them to calm 
        down compared to 65 percent of the participants in the aggressive groups.

      
 Participants in the 
        aggressive groups also have a greater tendency to be impatient. Nearly 
        all participants (95 percent) in the aggressive groups admitted that they 
        often or always get impatient when behind schedule. This compares with 
        only 33 percent in the general groups. Similarly, 80 percent of participants 
        in the aggressive groups get impatient when the car ahead slows down compared 
        to 32 percent of the participants in the general groups.

      
 On two questions 
        designed to measure competitiveness, the question that asked how often 
        they compete with other cars in traffic jams was discriminating. In the 
        aggressive groups, 75 percent of the participants admitted that they often 
        or always compete and none said they never do. The proportions are almost 
        reversed in the general groups where 78 percent claim they never compete 
        and the remainder admit to competing only sometimes. Only two of the 52 
        participants stated that they sometimes drag race at stop lights, and 
        both were in Group 5.

      
 There also was a 
        difference between the general and aggressive groups on two questions 
        designed to measure vindictiveness or actions taken to punish other drivers. 
        Half of the aggressive drivers said they block cars trying to pass at 
        least sometimes. This compares with only 19 percent of the general drivers. 
        In the aggressive group, 40 percent sometimes block cars trying to change 
        lanes compared to only 10 percent in the general groups.

      
 Although there was 
        a continuum of aggressiveness scores in both the general and aggressive 
        groups (a third of the participants in general groups had scores that 
        could have placed them in the aggressive groups), there was a discernible 
        qualitative difference between the groups on a number of issues. It was 
        noticed by the moderator and observers, as well as by the participants 
        themselves. There were occasions in both of the aggressive groups where 
        participants talked in terms of "us" and "them." When 
        Group 4 was asked directly how many would confess to being aggressive 
        at times, all but one raised their hands. The one man who did not raise 
        his hand scored just over the threshold of qualification for an aggressive 
        group. Later, he said, "If keeping people from cutting in line ahead 
        of me are included, I am aggressive." Almost all members of Group 
        5 also admitted to being aggressive drivers.

      
 The moderator asked 
        Group 4 how they defined aggressive driving. One of the men simply gestured 
        to the list of Beltway crash causes they had completed. Individual behaviors 
        they named were weaving from lane to lane, cutting others off, tailgating, 
        speeding, showing off, not allowing cars to merge in front of them and 
        getting angry at other drivers. Everyone laughed when the moderator asked 
        how many of them ever got angry on the Beltway. When asked how many ever 
        made an obscene gesture to another driver, several said "Not any 
        more." The implication was that they worry about retaliation.

      
 
        

           Table 5. Responses 
          to Aggressiveness Screening Questions.  
        

      

      
 
      

        
 
          Screening Question
          General Drivers
          Aggressive Drivers
        

        
 
          Number
          Percent
          Number
          Percent
        

        
 
           
            

              
 
                You get angry when cut off ... 
                Always (3)
              

            

          		
          3
          9%
          2
          10%
        

        
 
          Often (2)
          9
          28%
          9
          45%
        

        
 
          Sometimes (1)
          18
          56%
          9
          45%
        

        
 
          Never (0)
          2
          6%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
           
            

              
 
                Passengers tell you to calm down ... 
                Always (3)
              

            

          		
          0
          0%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
          Often (2)
          0
          0%
          2
          10%
        

        
 
          Sometimes (1)
          12
          38%
          11
          55%
        

        
 
          Never (0)
          20
          63%
          7
          35%
        

        
 
           
            

              
 
                You get impatient when behind schedule ... 
                Always (3)
              

            

          		
          4
          13%
          6
          30%
        

        
 
          Often (2)
          6
          19%
          13
          65%
        

        
 
          Sometimes (1)
          19
          59%
          1
          5%
        

        
 
          Never (0)
          3
          9%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
           
            

              
 
                You get impatient when the car ahead slows down ...
                Always (3)
              

            

          		
          2
          6%
          3
          15%
        

        
 
          Often (2)
          5
          16%
          13
          65%
        

        
 
          Sometimes (1)
          14
          44%
          4
          20%
        

        
 
          Never (0)
          11
          34%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
           
            

              
 
                You compete with other cars in traffic jams ... 
                Always (3)
              

            

          		
          0
          0%
          2
          10%
        

        
 
          Often (2)
          0
          0%
          13
          65%
        

        
 
          Sometimes (1)
          7
          22%
          5
          25%
        

        
 
          Never (0)
          25
          78%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
           
            

              
 
                You drag race at stop lights ... 
                Always (3)
              

            

          		
          0
          0%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
          Often (2)
          0
          0%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
          Sometimes (1)
          0
          0%
          2
          10%
        

        
 
          Never (0)
          32
          100%
          18
          90%
        

        
 
           
            

              
 
                You block cars trying to pass ... 
                Always (3)
              

            

          		
          0
          0%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
          Often (2)
          0
          0%
          1
          5%
        

        
 
          Sometimes (1)
          6
          19%
          9
          45%
        

        
 
          Never (0)
          26
          81%
          10
          50%
        

        
 
           
            

              
 
                You block cars trying to change lanes ... 
                Always (3)
              

            

          		
          0
          0%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
          Often (2)
          0
          0%
          0
          0%
        

        
 
          Sometimes (1)
          3
          9%
          8
          40%
        

        
 
          Never (0)
          29
          91%
          12
          60%