Summer in Iowa is hot and humid. When the heat and humidity rise, some of us can get a little cranky. Getting angry while you’re behind the wheel can be dangerous. If you drive angry, you’re more likely to be aggressive, risking your life and the lives of those who are sharing the road with you. And you’re not alone. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2019 data, nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression, or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the previous 30 days. But when you’re behind the wheel, staying cool, calm, and collected will help us all get where we need to go.
These are some of the aggressive behaviors that put us all at risk.
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down
- Running red lights
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Blocking cars attempting to pass or change lanes
- Using headlights or brakes to “punish” other drivers
Be safe. Calm down. After you’re in the driver’s seat, but before you start your vehicle, take a deep breath. Try to relax and focus on the task of driving.
Save this link on your phone and use it whenever you need to calm down before you start to drive - https://youtu.be/5pklqVs7SN8
So far this year in Iowa, 209 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of seven since last Friday. In Iowa in 2022, there were 338 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf