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Putting The Brakes On Road Rage
by News Canada
Research project drives anger to the curb
(NC)—Has the driver in front of you ever slammed on the breaks for no apparent
reason? Why do slowpokes always land in the fast lane? Is signaling to change
lanes a thing of the past?
It is easy to predict what can make people angry behind the wheel. The real
value is in figuring out what calms people back down.
"Understanding the anger cycle is going to benefit those who plan public road
safety campaigns and driver education programs," says Wolfgang Linden, a
professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. His research,
funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), looks at
what makes people angry, how they respond to it and how they recover from it.
Provoking anger in the real world in order to study it is dangerous and
unethical, so Linden and his research team turn to virtual-reality driving
simulators—the same as those used for head-injury patients who prepare to return
to open-road driving. The simulated environment is not only safe, but also
cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
"People react to stressful situations in different ways," Linden continues. "By
provoking people in a controlled environment, we can watch how they react in
response. Then we can start to make the links between anger, stress and
disease."
You'll find more information about projects supported by SSRHC on the Council's
Web site at www.sshrc.ca.
- News Canada
About The Author
News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free
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well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn
more about the NC services. |
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