Road Rage: Lethal Weapon in the Fast Lane
Road Rage is violent behavior associated with automobiles and traffic. Commonly believed to be a psychological condition described as "intermittent explosive disorder", most outbreaks are triggered by a provocation out of proportion to the degree of violence that is released. 200-300 fatalities per year can be attributed to a driver or passenger of a vehicle using the vehicle or another weapon to cause the death of another driver, passenger, or pedestrian.

Differences Between Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
While Road rage may seem like an extreme example of aggressive driving, it is an entirely separate phenomenon. A driver who is exhibiting aggressive driving may give in to tailgating, speeding, blocking, finger gesturing, and attempts to chastise or annoy another driver. Up to this point, the driver may be discourteous and angry but there is no effort to cause physical injury. Individuals with impulsive behavior tendencies will react to a perceived act of disrespect on the road with a response way out of proportion to the offending act. Affecting mostly young men, other manifestations of impulsive behavior can be habitual gambling and sexual impulsivity.

Demographic Distribution of Road Rage
In a 1999 AAA study on how to prevent aggressive driving and road rage, 45% of road rage incidents occurred in urban areas, 35% in suburban areas, and 7.8% in rural locations. There were no significant differences between highway and surface streets. Other interesting findings pointed out that Friday by far was the worst day of the week, and incidences occurred more on moderately congested roads in good weather. Non-scientific surveys in the popular press have crowned Miami, Florida as the top city for road rage incidents, followed by New York, Boston and Los Angeles. Portland, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Seattle, Washington were ranked as the most courteous cities.

Defusing Potential Road Rage Situations
The commute puts higher than normal levels of stress on drivers. You can see a variety of aggressive behaviors anywhere you go, including drivers weaving in and out of lanes to gain a few car-lengths, tailgating and other discourteous behavior. A driver who is predisposed to road rage will view any of these actions as a personal affront and may go ballistic for a seemingly innocent encroachment. Your goal while driving is to get to work in one piece by not becoming a target for someone else's rage. Here are a few tips on how to avoid becoming a victim or a perpetrator:

• Go With the Flow.
  Avoid holding up traffic by insisting on doing the speed limit when the traffic around you appears to be moving faster. In slower traffic, don't tailgate. Give yourself plenty of time to get to where you are going.
• Offer the Right of Way.
  Give other drivers the right of way when they want to pass or appear to be impatient.
• Apologize for Transgressions.
  When you accidentally cut someone off, or set a bad driving example, make sure you let the other driver know you are sorry. Flashing the peace sign (index and middle finger raised in a 'v for victory' is a recognized sign of apology.
• Resist the Temptation to Drive Aggressively.
  Trying to punish another driver by tailgating, honking, or gesturing is a sure-fire way to get the attention of a driver who is prone to impulsive behavior. You never know who you are dealing with on the road, so why play Russian Roulette?
• Employ Courtesy of the Road.
  Be a member of an elite club who still believes in leaving a positive impression on your fellow drivers. Always signal your intentions, drive responsibly, and be alert for dangerous situations.

Measures to Curb Road Rage
The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has set forth an action guide to outline a comprehensive approach to deal with aggressive driving and road rage. By increasing public awareness through educational programs, increasing the severity of penalties, and improving apprehension techniques, road rage and aggressive driving can be more easily recognized and dealt with. Private citizens can act by using various "tip" lines to report unsafe and aggressive driving, while individuals can educate themselves on how to reduce the likelihood that they may some day become road rage victims or perpetrators.