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Rhode Island driving lesson · Distraction, Drowsiness & Emotions

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage

A 3-minute lesson from the Rhode Island course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Distraction, Drowsiness & Emotions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
23, 24, 25

Aggressive driving is pushy, bold driving. Road rage is what happens when it boils over into threats or violence. Your goal is to avoid conflict: don't provoke other drivers, and don't take the bait when they misbehave.

Aggressive driving

Operating a vehicle in a pushy or bold manner: speeding, following too closely, ignoring traffic control devices, improper turns and maneuvers.

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Road rage

Using a vehicle or other weapon to threaten or harm another road user in response to a traffic incident; an escalation usually ignited by aggressive driving.

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Examples of road rage:

  • Throwing objects at a vehicle
  • Yelling at a specific roadway user
  • Attempting to ram another vehicle
Handbook p. 23 ↗

Don't give others a reason to get angry:

  • Be courteous even when others aren't; leave plenty of time
  • Stay calm—soothing music can help
  • Keep an adequate following distance
  • Avoid unnecessary lane changes and always signal first
  • Don't block the passing lane—except when passing, stay out of the far-left lane
  • Don't park across multiple spaces or touch other cars with doors
  • If safe, move out of the right lane so entering vehicles can merge
Handbook p. 24 ↗

Know the rule

Use your horn sparingly: a couple of short taps may seem less aggressive than one long blast.

Handbook p. 24 ↗

Know the rule

Return to low beams as soon as you detect an oncoming vehicle, and don't drive behind another vehicle with your high beams on.

Handbook p. 24 ↗

If another driver is aggressive toward you:

  • Don't respond or escalate; stay calm and breathe
  • Avoid eye contact with the driver or passengers
  • Be tolerant, polite and courteous
  • Leave room around your car to pull out if someone approaches
  • Don't get out of your vehicle—it offers protection
  • Call 911 if necessary
  • Drive to a busy public place (hospital, fire station, busy store) and sound your horn if needed
Handbook p. 24 ↗

Know the rule

If another driver challenges you, stay in your vehicle. Just as in a crash, your vehicle gives you protection—don't lose it by getting out.

Handbook p. 24 ↗

Put it into practice

A driver tailgates you, then pulls alongside yelling. Don't make eye contact or gesture back. Keep your doors locked and space around your car; if they keep following, call 911 and drive to a busy gas station or fire station.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is the key difference between aggressive driving and road rage?
  1. Road rage is any act of speeding or tailgating
  2. Aggressive driving always involves a weapon
  3. Road rage uses the vehicle or a weapon to threaten or harm someone
  4. Road rage only occurs on highways

Answer: Road rage uses the vehicle or a weapon to threaten or harm someone

Road rage is an escalation of aggressive driving in which a driver uses the vehicle or another weapon to threaten or harm someone.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
Which of these is an example of aggressive driving listed in the handbook?
  1. Driving slowly in the right lane
  2. Following too closely
  3. A couple of short horn taps
  4. Returning to low beams for oncoming cars

Answer: Following too closely

Exceeding the speed limit, following too closely, and failing to obey traffic controls are all examples of aggressive driving.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
If confronted by an aggressive driver who approaches your vehicle, what should you do?
  1. Lower your window to talk it out
  2. Make direct eye contact to show confidence
  3. Stay inside your locked vehicle
  4. Get out and apologize in person

Answer: Stay inside your locked vehicle

Do not get out of your vehicle; it offers protection. Contact 911 or drive to a busy public place if necessary.

Handbook p. 24 ↗
What horn technique is recommended as less likely to seem aggressive?
  1. One long, sustained blast
  2. Three quick, loud blasts
  3. Repeated honking until they move
  4. A couple of short taps

Answer: A couple of short taps

A couple of short taps on the horn may be perceived as less aggressive than one long blast.

Handbook p. 24 ↗
Which guideline helps prevent becoming an aggressive driver yourself, per the handbook?
  1. Take the far-left lane whenever it's open
  2. Stay close to the car ahead so no one cuts in
  3. Leave plenty of time to reach your destination
  4. Change lanes often to keep moving

Answer: Leave plenty of time to reach your destination

Leaving plenty of time to reach your destination is one guideline to help prevent becoming an aggressive driver.

Handbook p. 24 ↗
According to the handbook, road rage is an escalation of emotions generally ignited by what?
  1. Drowsy driving
  2. Aggressive driving behaviors
  3. Distracted driving
  4. Bad weather

Answer: Aggressive driving behaviors

Road rage is an escalation of emotions generally ignited by aggressive driving behaviors, in response to a traffic incident.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
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