Self-reported changes in aggressive driving within the past five years, and during COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Road safety and behavioral science research.
• Psychological impacts of environmental stressors on driving behavior.

Background:

• Aggressive driving is a major road safety concern, potentially worsening with increased traffic and driver stress.
• The COVID-19 pandemic may heighten driver frustration and stress, exacerbating aggressive driving tendencies.
• Existing self-report data shows no change in aggression prevalence, possibly due to measurement methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if self-reported aggressive driving has increased over a five-year period.
• To analyze changes across verbal aggression, aggressive vehicle use, and personal physical aggression.
• To investigate the influence of COVID-19 lockdowns on drivers' own and others' driving styles.

Main Methods:

• An online survey administered to 774 licensed drivers.
• Retrospective assessment of current and past (five years prior) self-reported aggression frequencies.
• Inclusion of open-ended questions on perceived driving style changes during COVID-19 lockdowns.
• Logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with increased aggression.

Main Results:

• 33% of drivers reported increased personal aggression compared to five years ago.
• 61% of drivers perceived other drivers as more aggressive now than five years ago.
• Perception of increased aggression from other drivers was the primary factor linked to increased self-reported aggression.
• 47% reported other drivers became riskier and more dangerous during/after COVID-19 lockdowns.

Conclusions:

• The driving environment is perceived as increasingly aggressive, both gradually and due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
• Perceived increases in aggression are likely to provoke higher levels of aggression in some drivers.
• Road safety campaigns must focus on altering road culture and improving interactions, or perceived interactions, among road users.