How Aggressive Of A Driver Are You? Why You Might Just Be This Guy In Bond's Rearview Mirror But Don't Even Know It

According to a 2012 Leger Marketing poll, nearly 80% of Canadian drivers admit to aggressive behaviour that could be considered road rage, such as use of profanity, yelling, or following other vehicles too closely, with speeding as the most common.

Here's How Some of the Stats Break Down:

• 8 in 10 Canadian drivers are guilty of aggressive behaviour
• 83% are men, while 76% are women
• 2 in 5 admit to using profanity during traffic
• Young drivers aged 18-34 are most guilty of cutting people off
• 1 in 5 are guilty of tailgating
• Seeing other people distracted by mobile phones or other ways is the most common trigger for most road-ragers
• Men are more likely than women to experience road rage when cut off
• Women express road rage more than men when they are running late
• Drivers under the age of 45 are more likely to blame their road rage on a bad day than those age 45 and older

Behaviours Of And Conditions That Trigger Road Rage:

• Speeding
• Swearing during traffic
• Tailgating
• Yelling/swearing directly at someone
• Rude hand gestures
• Cutting people off
• Weaving in and out of traffic

Take the Self-Test By Answering Yes or No To the Following Statements:

• I regularly exceed the speed limit in order to get to a given destination.
• I tailgate other drivers, especially those who sit in the left lane.
• I flash my lights and honk my horn to let drivers know when they annoy me.
• I verbally abuse other drivers whether they can hear me or not.
• I frequently weave in and out of traffic to 'get ahead'.
• I feel that I am the only person on the road who 'knows how to drive'.
• I have a compulsion to set drivers straight when they violate my own set of road rules.

If after reading this you realize that you fall into the aggressive driver camp, you're not alone. More importantly, however, you can change your behaviour. By being aware of your tendencies while driving, you can make a different decision each time you get in your vehicle and get triggered. By stepping back, taking a deep breath, and resisting the urge to retaliate, you are making yourself and others safer.

It's important to realize that traffic is part of a larger system: poorly designed roads, complexities and rapid pace of modern life, work/life stressors, faster vehicles, and the list goes on. As drivers we are part of that larger system, and therefore it is not any one person's fault on the road. We are the result of innumerable complex factors colliding to create the reality called 'traffic'. The guy that flipped you off is part of a larger system beyond merely driving that is causing him to react in such a way. It's not just the traffic. Remembering this, and remembering to be patient, is another way to stay cool when the roads heat up.