Is Mental Health A Factor In Many Road Rage Cases?

Californians rank aggressive driving as one of the biggest traffic safety problems in the state. In the California Office of Traffic Safety’s second annual Traffic Safety Survey, 17.5 percent of people surveyed thought aggressive driving posed a significant threat to traffic safety due to its potential to contribute to car accidents and altercations on the road. When aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and making inappropriate comments or gestures toward other motorists, escalates into violence, then the perpetrator is considered to be engaging in road rage, explains a lawyer. This was recently the case in Orange County, California. While road rage has been attributed to environmental and situational factors, studies have indicated that mental health may also play a role.

An incident that occurred in the Orange County city of Rancho Santa Margarita last June illustrates how aggression can escalate into road rage. The altercation occurred in front of Schools First Federal Credit Union when a driver in a silver Volvo honked at another driver in a white Mazda, prompting the driver of the Mazda to exit her vehicle and kick in one of the Volvo’s doors. The driver of the Volvo proceeded to park her car in front of the Mazda, blocking it, reported the Orange County Register.

Fortunately, this altercation in Rancho Santa Margarita did not turn violent, as incidents in Glendale and San Diego have resulted in serious injuries. In October 2010, an off-duty Glendale police officer and a citizen repeatedly cut each other off on city streets before exiting vehicles at a red light and brawling. In 2008, a driver became involved in a confrontation with an off-duty police officer in San Diego that resulted in the officer firing multiple shots at the driver’s car, one of which hit an 8-year-old boy.

An individual’s environment and situation may influence whether or not he or she engages in road rage. For instance, if the person travels long distances daily or if his or her commute is congested, he or she may be more prone to aggressive driving behaviors. Also, if the person is under an inordinate amount of stress or is displacing aggression, he or she may be more likely to act out against other drivers. Substance abuse may also be a contributing factor to aggressive driving tendencies.

Some studies have indicated that mental health may play a role in a person’s likelihood of committing an act of road rage. In their study, “Road Rage: What’s Driving It?” researchers Randy A. Sansone and Lori A. Sansone found that the rate of borderline personality disorder was four times that encountered in the general population for the drivers they studied who had engaged in road rage. In another study, titled “Road Rage: Relationships with Borderline Personality and Driving Citations,” researchers found that more than 33 percent of individuals studied reported road rage, and that the prevalence of borderline personality disorder was higher among the group that had experienced road rage at some point. More recently, NPR reported that as much as 6 percent of the population suffers from Intermittent Explosive Disorder, another psychological condition that has been linked to road rage, explains a lawyer.

Given that aggressive driving and road rage contribute to car accidents and altercations like the one in Orange County, it is important to study its causes. Hopefully, as the link between this dangerous behavior and specific mental disorders is better known, treatment methods will be established.

By: Larry Drexel

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Larry Drexel is a Public Relations manager. To obtain free, informative books or articles he suggests visiting Orange County car accident lawyer.