This paper reports on a survey of urban college student commuters regarding their experiences with driving-induced stress. Results indicate that 23.6 percent of participants reported that they became angry at another driver more than once per day. They rated stress from other drivers as equal to the stress experienced during a college examination but gave slightly lower ratings to traffic congestion, road construction and finding a parking place as sources of stress. Slow drivers, an unrestrained child, and a vehicle following too closely were the highest rated annoying situations. 21.6% of participants had reported another driver to the police. Three-quarters of total respondents believed that drivers were more aggressive and dangerous than they were five years ago. Nearly 22% said they carried a weapon for protection from other drivers, with men being more than twice as likely as women to carry a weapon and three times as likely to carry a gun. Of the total sample, 19.1% feared being shot by another driver.
Abstract