A day when fatigue, traffic density and time pressure are combined to make the road an exasperation ground.
The researchers found that anger at the wheel does not appear evenly over the week. It is particularly intensifying at a time of the week and there is a very clear explanation behind this phenomenon. For their analysis, express flat, at the origin of this work, then observed with attention the behaviors of the drivers. It follows that the incidents are not just a grumpy mood: they also result in a more aggressive use of the horn, risky lead changes or repeated heel. So many gestures that increase the risk of accident.
The researchers then studied the causes which transformed circulation into a catalyst of anger that specific day. First, fatigue, accumulated over several days, weighs heavily. The lack of rest, too, makes drivers more sensitive to the unexpected and less tolerant in the face of the small errors of others. And to this is added the unusual density of traffic, with lines of vehicles that slow down the progression and strengthen the impression of wasting precious time. Finally, the pressure of the calendar also plays a decisive role such as having to arrive at a specific time, finish a current project or simply join an activity scheduled for the end of the day.
If it is true that tense driving can occur anytime, the data nevertheless reveals that Friday remains the day concentrating the highest load of nervousness in drivers. That day, all the stressful criteria combine, inevitably bringing mustard to the nose of people behind the wheel.
Thus, faced with this observation, the study offers some concrete solutions to mitigate tensions. Maintaining a safety distance avoids unnecessary provocations. Avoid peak hours when possible, limits exposure to the densest traffic jams. Finally, agreeing an additional time for the journey also helps to release the pressure linked to the fear of arriving late. A series of adjustments that can significantly reduce the risk of slippages and thus preserve collective safety by reducing aggressive behavior.
