[The Conversation]

Why Do People Tailgate? A Psychologist Explains What’s Behind This Common (And Annoying) Driving Habit​

It’s hot, you’ve had a battle to get the kids in the car, and now you’re going to be late for the family lunch.

You turn onto the freeway only to get stuck behind a slow driver in the fast lane. You want them to move over or speed up, so you drive a little closer. Then closer. Then so close it would be difficult to avoid hitting them if they stopped suddenly.

When that doesn’t work you honk the horn. Nothing. Finally, frustrated, you dart into the left lane and speed past them.

Today was one of those days where many small annoyances have led to you being aggressive on the road. This isn’t how you usually drive. So why was today different?

Aren’t holidays supposed to be relaxing?​

Holiday driving may look a lot different to your usual commute. It may involve driving longer distances, or involve more frequent driving with more passengers than usual in the car.

Holiday driving comes with increased risk (road deaths tend to spike during the holidays). That’s why news bulletins often carry the latest “road toll” figures around public holidays.

But whether you drive differently to normal comes down to the value you place on your time, rather than when you drive.

If you are in a rush, your time becomes more precious because you have less of it. If something, or someone, infringes on that time, you may become frustrated and aggressive.

This is basic human psychology. You can get angry when someone gets in the way of what you are trying to achieve. You get angrier when you think they are acting unfairly or inappropriately.

Usually before you respond, you evaluate what has happened, asking who is at fault and if they could have done things differently.

But when you are driving, you have less time and resources to make detailed evaluations. Instead, you make quick judgements of the situation and how best to deal with it.

These judgements can be based on how you are feeling at the time. If you are frustrated before getting in the car, you are likely to be easily frustrated while driving, blame other drivers more for your circumstances, and express this through aggressive driving.

Tailgating and speeding are examples of this aggression.

A driver frustrated by the perception that someone is driving too slowly, or in the wrong lane, might speed past the offending driver, and maintain this speed for some time after the event.

Aggressive tailgating may be seen as reprimanding the driver for their perceived slow speeds, or to encourage them to move out of the way.

The problem is, when you are angry, you underestimate the risk of these behaviours, while over-estimating how much control you have of the situation. It’s not worth the risk.

A study of real-world driving shows both tailgating and speeding increase the odds of being in a crash more than if driving while holding or dialling a mobile phone. Drivers who are tailgating or speeding have a 13 to 14-fold increase in odds of being in a crash, compared to when they are driving more safely.

Here’s what you can do​

One way to stay safe on the roads these holidays is to recognise the situations that may lead to your own dangerous behaviours.

The Monash University Accident Research Centre has developed a program to help drivers reduce their aggressive driving. This helps drivers develop their own strategies to stay calm while driving, recognising that one strategy is unlikely to suit every driver.

Almost 100 self-identified aggressive drivers developed four types of tips to remain calm while driving:

1. Before driving: tips include better journey planning, allowing enough time for the trip and recognising how you are feeling before you get in the car
2. While driving: this includes travelling in the left lane to avoid slow drivers in the right lane, or pulling over when feeling angry
3. In your vehicle: such as deep breathing or listening to music
4. ‘Rethinking’ the situation: acknowledge that in some situations, the only thing you can change is how you think about it. For example, ask yourself is it worth the risk? Or personalise the other driver. What if that was your loved one in the car in front?

Four months after completing the program, drivers reported less anger and aggression while driving than before the program. The strategies that worked best for these drivers were listening to music, focusing on staying calm and rethinking the problem.

A favourite rethink was a 5x5x5 strategy. This involved asking yourself whether the cause of your anger will matter in five minutes, five hours or five days. If it is unlikely to matter after this time, it is best to let go.

The holidays are meant to be relaxing and joyous. Let’s not jeopardise that through reactions to other drivers.

This article was first published on The Conversation, and was written by Amanda Stephens, Senior Research Fellow Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University

 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

I always have the radio on and probably because of this, never get annoyed at other drivers.
Sure, if the driver is travelling at around 85kms in a 100kms zone, I will pass it but quite often, I am happy to sit behind a driver travelling at 90/95klms and will even drop my speed further to 85klms and enjoy the drive.
Almost forgot, I ALWAYS sing with the radio - keeps me sane!

 

[Ricci]

I always used to drive in silence. It was my time for thinking, it's the place where I would put the world to rights, plan strategies, examine my life and make plans. Often though I would arrive at my destination only to find there was huge chunks of the journey I couldn't remember, I'd been on autopilot.
So I changed the way I drove, whacked some cd's into the player, selected random play and away we went. me singing along at the top of my voice. It certainly turned things on their head. I can sing along on autopilot while my brain is concentrating on the road conditions, other cars etc. etc. As I age I've found this to be a much better and safer way to travel, my thinking time is now done only at home or sitting watching the ocean or river. However I would like to apologise in advance to anyone that passes me on the road or is next to me at the traffic lights, my singing is not the best, nor always in tune!!

 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

I always used to drive in silence. It was my time for thinking, it's the place where I would put the world to rights, plan strategies, examine my life and make plans. Often though I would arrive at my destination only to find there was huge chunks of the journey I couldn't remember, I'd been on autopilot.
So I changed the way I drove, whacked some cd's into the player, selected random play and away we went. me singing along at the top of my voice. It certainly turned things on their head. I can sing along on autopilot while my brain is concentrating on the road conditions, other cars etc. etc. As I age I've found this to be a much better and safer way to travel, my thinking time is now done only at home or sitting watching the ocean or river. However I would like to apologise in advance to anyone that passes me on the road or is next to me at the traffic lights, my singing is not the best, nor always in tune!!

I am much the same in this regard; identify totally with you ....