Amanda Iacone, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – The aggressive driver honking the horn and frequently changing lanes during your all-too-long commute is more likely to be a woman.
According to a recent CareerBuilder poll, 61 percent of women reported they are prone to road rage compared to 56 percent of men.
Drivers age 55 and older reported feeling the most relaxed, while drivers ages 25 to 34 were most likely to feel road rage during their commutes.
An Esurance blog post analyzing the poll results says that some experts theorize women’s aggressive driving tendencies stem from their “subconscious need to break free of society’s expectations.”
An unrelated study by the Sleep Council found that women are also grumpy more often and their sour moods last longer in the morning than men, who report they are not usually grumpy when they wake up.
But more than adding to the headache of other drivers’ commutes, aggressive driving can be dangerous and a road rage conviction could cause a driver’s car insurance to spike.
The poll also found that one in three drivers have used their cellphone to send text messages during their drive to and from work. And nearly a quarter of drivers said they have been involved in an accident during their commute — cellphones often contributed to the crash.
Workers also say the longer the drive, the more stressful their commute. About one-third of workers with a 5-minute drive say they have experience road rage. Increase the drive to just 10 minutes and about half of drivers report they have experienced road rage.
So how can you avoid becoming that grumpy, aggressive driver that makes other drivers miserable? CareerBuilder offers a few tips to get your morning off on the right foot:
- Give yourself more time in the morning. Pick your outfit and make your lunch the night before. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier.
- Request a flexible work schedule. Ask your boss if you can start work at an off-peak time to avoid rush hour or ask if you can work from home.
- Listen to soothing music, a book on tape or your favorite (we recommend WTOP) news radio program.
- Opt for public transportation. You can finish that project for work, read, or relax.
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