NCJ Number
207249
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 32 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2004 Pages: 421-430
Editor(s)
Kent B. Joscelyn
Date Published
September 2004
Length
10 pages
Annotation
In specifying the existence of a relationship between aggressive driving behavior and road rage behavior, this study examined alcohol and non-alcohol effects on and the reciprocity between the two behaviors in drinking driving populations.
Abstract
Numerous reports provide evidence suggesting an association between high-risk driving and involvement in drinking driving (DD). Under the assumption that aggressive driving (AD) and road rage (RR) are two specific behaviors and the involvement in one tends to impact the involvement in the other and the explanation for changes in one can not readily be applied to those of the other, this study developed three analytical blocks (age, gender, and past violence) to examine AD and RR, specifically alcohol use, involvement in DD, and depression. A total of 431 respondents in alcoholism treatment due to DD-related reasons were recruited for the study from 50 alcoholism and substance abuse treatment facilities across the State of New York. Two patterns emerged from the study. First, evidence suggested a reciprocal effect between AD and RR, thereby supporting the assumption or hypothesis that aggressive driving behaviors were likely to be increased by involvement in road rage and vice versa. The second emerging pattern indicated that road aggression was more likely to be influenced by measures indicating specific problem behaviors than those denoting more general behaviors and conditions. While drinking driving, frequency of using alcohol, and experiences of stressful life events or depression did not show a significant impact on AD and RR, alcohol problems, impaired driving, and depression exhibited a consistent effect pattern on road aggression. Appendix and references