Understanding Road Rage and Aggressive Driving

In recent years, we’ve been seeing more and more news reports about road rage. Some incidents have ended in the deaths of people driving the targeted cars or motorcycles. Thinking of the families left behind is truly heartbreaking. One definition of aggressive driving is:

Any act in which a driver targets a car, motorcycle, or bicycle on the road for some reason or purpose, creating a traffic hazard by harassing the person while they are driving. (Excerpt omitted) Common actions include honk­ing the horn and tailgating. In some cases, however, drivers cross the line into criminal behavior. This can include forcing another vehicle to stop, threatening the driver, or dragging them from the car and assaulting them.
*Source: Wikipedia, “Aggressive driving (aori unten)”

That’s how Wikipedia describes it.

*Image source: Retaliation against aggressive drivers is on the rise! The risks of that momentary satisfaction are enormous

There’s also an explanation for why aggressive driving happens:

A car is a space where you feel protected and in control, so while driving, people can feel psychologically more powerful. As a result, even small frustrations can trigger anger when things don’t go their way.

People often say, “They change as soon as they get behind the wheel,” and apparently this sense of empowerment is part of the reason. Research also suggests that some drivers become more aggressive when they’re behind the wheel of a large vehicle with a high driving position or a luxury car, mistakenly feeling as if they’ve become more important.

I can see how that might happen… though I’m not sure I completely understand it.

Police Crack Down on Aggressive Driving

In January 2018, Japan’s National Police Agency issued instructions to strengthen enforcement against aggressive driving. It also advised drivers on what to do if they encounter a road-rage incident: install dash cams covering both the front and rear of the car, or, if you have a passenger, ask them to record the incident and submit the footage to the police as evidence.

*Image source: Retaliation against aggressive drivers is on the rise! The risks of that momentary satisfaction are enormous

This reminds me of when I was little and would ride in the back seat with my brother while our mother drove. We’d often get tailgated (maybe Mom drove a little too slowly!). Whenever it happened, she’d say, “You two, turn around and glare at the driver behind us!” (There were no child seats back then,) so my brother and I would turn around and glare at the man behind the wheel.（笑）

It actually seemed to work, so whenever we encountered a tailgater, my brother and I would turn around as if to say, “We’ve been waiting for this!” But these days, people sometimes retaliate, so looking back, it was a pretty dangerous thing to do…

Aggressive Driving and Porsche Ownership

If you drive what’s considered a luxury car, like a Porsche, it’s rare to be tailgated. I recently wrote that I’d driven 1,000 km round trip in a Panamera without being tailgated, and it really is true.

ポルシェ パナメーラのここがすごい！ ー 往復1000km走行で再認識した素晴らしさ

My husband had this to say about aggressive driving:

In my experience, I’ve never been tailgated in the Panamera Turbo. With the Boxster, there are occasionally cars that get close—not so much to harass me, but probably because they want a better look. Every now and then, someone does tailgate, though. When that happens, I switch on the sports exhaust and give it a little blip, and they usually back off, haha.

He said.

I asked, “What about the air-cooled 964 C2? It’s small and has a cute shape, and plenty of people probably don’t recognize it as a Porsche. Could it get tailgated?”

Surprisingly, even though the 964 is so small and old, people don’t tailgate it much. And I’ve never been tailgated by another Porsche, either. Even if a Porsche comes up quickly from behind, once it gets closer, the driver keeps a sensible following distance. Maybe there’s a sense of camaraderie among Porsche drivers.

I’ve also heard stories of people being tailgated in a Porsche by modified Japanese sports cars, but it hasn’t happened to us yet. In other words, if you drive a Porsche, you probably don’t need to worry too much about being tailgated.

Making Sure You’re Not the Aggressive Driver

When you’re driving a Porsche, one thing to keep in mind is the possibility that you could be the one intimidating another driver.

 

Porsches have precise handling and excellent stability, which can make you feel as if you’ve suddenly become a better driver. And because they don’t feel fast even when you’re traveling at a decent speed, it’s easy to find yourself pressing the accelerator and picking up speed without realizing it.

So when driving a Porsche on the expressway, I’ll admit I sometimes get frustrated with the car ahead and think, “Why are they crawling along like this… (-_-)” My husband says:

On Germany’s Autobahn, slower cars often move over promptly when a faster car approaches. If the driver ahead hasn’t noticed you, a left turn signal or a quick flash of the headlights is usually enough to let them know, and they’ll move aside. Drivers are very considerate about that.
In Japan, though, many people stay in the passing lane and refuse to move over, thinking, “As long as I’m driving at the speed limit, I’m under no obligation to yield.” I think that’s one reason aggressive-driving incidents are more likely to happen.

I see…

Still, that’s no excuse to tailgate the car in front—ever. If the car ahead is moving too slowly and you really need to pass, do so only when it’s safe and there’s plenty of room. (Under Japan’s Road Traffic Act, passing on the left is prohibited.)

So why is it so important never to tailgate the car in front? Safety is, of course, the main reason. But there’s another factor:

Driving a luxury car like a Porsche often doesn’t win you a positive impression from the public.

As I wrote in this article, even if you’re behaving perfectly normally behind the wheel, other people may see you as “a rich person indulging in an expensive hobby” or “showing off.”

A Porsche can be an object of admiration—and a target of envy.

For example, if an ordinary Japanese car is parked illegally, people might simply think, “Don’t park there! (*_*)” But when a Porsche is parked on the street, it can attract much stronger criticism: “Just because you drive a luxury car, you think you’re better than everyone? What terrible manners!”

Similarly, if a Porsche is involved in a crash after speeding, the news may identify it specifically as a “Porsche crash.” If an ordinary Japanese car were involved, the headline would more likely just say “passenger car crashes.”

That’s just how it is—not only with Porsche, but with the world in general.

So if a Porsche, which already stands out, is seen driving aggressively, it’s likely to attract a lot of resentment from those around it.

The Risk of Being Exposed on Social Media

One thing I think we need to be especially careful about these days is social media. I’ve come across posts on Twitter several times saying:

“There’s a car driving aggressively, so I’m going to expose it.”

The posts include videos of the alleged aggressive driving. When someone says they’re going to “expose” the driver, the license plate is usually left visible, and these posts can be widely retweeted. In some cases, things could escalate to the point where the driver’s identity is discovered.

Just imagining my Porsche being exposed on social media like that is frightening.

Of course, the most important thing is to put safety first and never drive aggressively. But as I mentioned earlier, owners of luxury cars like Porsches should take extra care to drive courteously and responsibly. If you want to really push the car, that’s what a racetrack is for.

On the flip side, I’ve heard that letting another driver go first when you’re in a Porsche can earn you a few extra points—people appreciate being given way to by a Porsche, haha.

From now on, I’ll make an extra effort to drive safely whenever I’m behind the wheel of a Porsche.