Identifying Your Own Road Rage Triggers

Many people experience anger and frustration when they are driving. Below are some of the triggers (e.g. situations and people) that may increase your level of anger on the roadways. Think about and rate the ones that are frustrating, upsetting, or irritating for you. To use this scale, take a piece of paper and number down the page from 1 - 60. For each statement below, use the numbers below (1-5) to indicate how frustrating you have found that behavior both in the past (measure from the 12 months of your life when you had the most anger) and in the present (the last 12 months). Compare the scales. You can use this to start learning to react differently if anger on the highways has been an issue for you.

1. Having to wait a long time at stop lights or stop signs.
2. Weather conditions that slow traffic flow (e.g. snowstorms, rainshowers).
3. Road construction that slows traffic flow.
4. Driving congestion (e.g. during rush hour) that slows traffic flow.
5. Pedestrians who are moving too slowly through crosswalks.
6. Bicyclists who ride on the roadways.
7. Bicyclists who ride the wrong way on streets.
8. Drivers who are blocking traffic when they pick someone up.
9. Drivers who seem tentative, confused, or uncertain about where they are going.
10. Old drivers.
11. Slow drivers.
12. Women drivers.
13. Drivers who are combing their hair, looking in the mirror, or "primping".
14. Young male drivers.
15. Reckless or careless drivers.
16. Drivers of a different race.
17. Drivers who are using their cellular or car phones while they drive.
18. Drivers who are eating or drinking in their cars.
19. Drivers who are reading or doing crossword puzzles in their cars.
20. Drivers who are talking to others in their car and not paying attention to the road.
21. Drivers who are too "compulsive" or overly careful (e.g. signal turns too early, leave too much space between their car and the car ahead of them).
22. Drivers who have loud sound systems in their cars.
23. Drivers who own "fancy" or expensive cars (e.g. BMW, Lexus, Mercedes).
24. Drivers who own "fast" little sports cars.
25. Drivers who own large trucks or SUV’s.
26. Drivers whose cars are loud (i.e. it sounds like their mufflers need repair work).
27. Drivers who own old, rusty, or poorly-cared-for cars.
28. Drivers who have offensive bumper stickers or personalized license plates
    e.g. ________________________________________________.
29. Drivers who don't use their turn signals when they change lanes.
30. Drivers who don't acknowledge or express gratitude for a favor you've done.
31. Drivers who try to pull into a parking space you've been waiting for.
32. Drivers who don't signal a left turn until they are actually stopped at a stop light.
33. Drivers who are slow to move out when a stoplight turns green.
34. Drivers who make right turns on stoplights when they are not supposed to.
35. Drivers who don't make right turns on stoplights when they are allowed to do so.
36. Drivers who don't go through the intersection when the light is still yellow.
37. Drivers who enter intersections when the traffic light is yellow.
38. Drivers who run stop signs or stoplights.
39. Drivers who weave in and out of traffic.
40. Drivers who drive fast or recklessly during poor road conditions.
41. Drivers who try to get to the head of the line when the road merges to fewer lanes.
42. Drivers who flash you with their bright lights.
43. Drivers coming from the opposite direction who don't dim their headlights.
44. Drivers who go through "on ramp" signals illegally.
45. Drivers who pass you on the shoulder of the road.
46. Drivers who speed up when you try to pass them.
47. Drivers or motorcyclists who are speeding.
48. Drivers who tailgate you.
49. Drivers who tap or pump their brakes when you are behind them.
50. Drivers who honk at you.
51. Drivers who stare, glare, or make facial expressions at you as they go by.
52. Drivers who "flip you off" or make other obscene gestures at you.
53. Drivers who block or don't go fast enough in the passing lane.
54. Drivers who won't let you come into their lane.
55. Drivers who won't let you merge when you are trying to enter a freeway.
56. Drivers who yell or curse at you as they go by.
57. Drivers who try to get you to "pull over to talk" by the side of the road (e.g. by pointing to the side of the road).
58. Drivers who follow you.
59. Drivers who try to “talk” to you about your driving habits if they have followed you or ended up at the same destination.
60. Others: _______________________________________________________

TOTAL PAST: _______TOTAL PRESENT: _______
Add up the scores that you have written down and compare the totals as well.

© 1990 David J. Decker, MA, LP
Phone: 612-725-8402 or 651-646-4325 - www.ANGEResources.com