Driving angry could make you less likely to avoid a crash, study finds
By Areeb Khan
A new study based on real-world driving data has found that angry drivers are less likely to perform evasive manoeuvres during near-crash situations. The research also found that angry motorists were less likely to combine braking with steering, a response that can be crucial in avoiding an obstacle
That anger alters our driving behavior isn't particularly surprising, but interesting part yeh understand karna hai ki exactly kya hota hai when the situation shifts from an argument with another driver to a real danger where appko split-second reaction lena padta hai. New research ne precisely isi moment ko analyze kiya hai and found a clear difference: andgry are less likely to attempt an evasive maneuver when they find themselves in a near accident situation. Aggressive driving ki baat karein so isse long time se increased risk ke saath link kiya jaata raha hai. In fact, According to Motor.es ne pehle bhi analyse kiya hai ki aggressive driver ko kaise recognise kiya jaa sakta hai or kaunse driving behaviour danger ko or increase karte hai. But new study mein sirf participants se yeh nahi poocha gaya hai ki jab wo angry hote hai tab unhe lagta hai ki woh kis tarah drive karte hai. Iske instead, study mein real life driving situation se collect kiye gaye data ka use kiya gaya hai, jisse yeh understand karne ki try ki gayi hai ki actual driving conditions mein aggressive behaviour kis tarah saamne aata hai. Talking about the study, so yahan par yeh research conducted ki gayi thi by Manhua Wang of the University of Michigan, along with Shu Han and Feng Guo of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Yeh study Journal of Safety Research mein publish hui hai and for this research, data use kiya gaya tha from the Second Strategic Highway Research Program Naturalistic Driving Study. Yeh one of the larget U.S.-based databases mein se ek maana jaata hai, drivers ko unki daily driving activities ke during observe kiya gaya tha, so that real world driving behaviour ko better way mein understand kiya ja sake. Anger affects our behavior when an accident is imminent Researchers ne accidents or near miss incidents ko study kiya to understand ki kya anger ki presence ka connection tha with the driver's reaction immediately before the conflict. Is study mein yeh determine karne ki try ki gayi ki conflict hone se just pehle driver ka reaction kya tha and whether that reaction was related to the presence of anger. Main conculsion ki baat karein so yeh near-miss incidents se emerge hota hai. Jab driver angry tha, tab evasive maneuver perform karne ki probability comparatively lower dekhi gayi, as compared to those drivers who did not exhibit that emotional disturbance. Means jab driver mein anger ya emotional disturbance dekha gaya, so sudden situation mein vehicle ko avoid karne ya safely maneuver karne ka response dene ki possibility bhi low dekhi gayi. Yahan par ek important distinction note karna important hai. Study yeh conclude nahi karti that an angry person react karne mein incapable hota hai, nor does it mean that they will necessarily have an accident. What the study actually finds is an association between anger and a lower probability of taking an avoidance manoeuvre, especially jab impact se pehle prevent karne ke liye sirf ek bahut hi brief opportunity available hoti hai. The result aligns with other known effects of emotional state while driving, so driving ke time emotional state ka impact bhi clearly dekha jaa sakta hai. Because of stress driver mein aggression increase ho sakta hai, more reckless decisions liye jaa sakte hai and concentration bhi reduce ho sakti hai. Means jab driver stressed ya anxious hota hai, so uska driving behaviour bhi affect ho sakta hai, something we've also seen when analysing how stress and anxiety can impair driving. Braking, sure, but integrating brakes and steering is less common Study mein ek or particularly interesting baat saamne aayi jab sirf un cases ko analyze kiya gaya jahan driver ne danger ko avoid karne ka try kiya tha. Brakes use karne ki likelihood ki baat karein so angry drivers or jo emotionally agitated nahi the, dono ke between zyada difference notice nahi kiya gaya. Difference tab emerge hua jab both actions ko combine karke dekha gaya, jahan anger ke saath simultaneously brakes apply karne or steering wheel turn karne ki probability comparatively lower dekhi gayi.
Image source: Motor.es
This matters becuase certain critical situations mein sirf brakes hit karna enough nahi hota. Kuch scenarios mein vehicle ki speed ko reduce karna hota hai while simultaneously trajectory ko bhi modify karna padta hai, so that vehicle, pedestrian ya kisi obstacle se collision ko avoid kiya jaa sake. Authors ki baat karein so yahan par aap notice kar payenge that the change is not only in the probability of reacting, but also in the very structure of the evasive response itself. Younger drivers responded more than drivers in their middle years Age bhi ek or important variable tha jise study mein consider kiya gaya tha. Teenage driver, between 16 and 19 years old, ki baat karein so yeh notice kiya gaya hai that they were more likely to perform evasive manoeuvres in critical situations when compared to the middle aged drivers analyzed. Young drivers between 20 and 29 years old mein bhi similar behaviour dekha gaya, with both age groups showing a greater tendency to take evasive actions when faced with critical situations. That doesn't mean they are better drivers ya phir inke case mein accidents kam hote hai. Yeh result exclusively un studied events ke context mein refer karta hai, jahan evasive maneuver perform karne ki probability ko analyse kiya gaya tha. Researchers ne sex, risky behaviour or other factors ko bhi analyze kiya. One key finding yeh tha that individuals who were involved in anger-related incidents, unka overall risky driving score necessarily other population se different nahi tha. In other words, anger-related incidents mein involved hone wale individuals ka overall risky driving behaviour every case mein general population ke comparison mein higher nahi dekha gaya. In other words, yeh effect sirf un drivers ke profile tak limited nahi dikhta who habitually aggressive driving karte hai. Means, iska impact only un drivers mein hi notice nahi kiya gaya hai jo regularly aggressively drive karte hai, rather iske behind or bhi factors dekhe jaa sakte hai. Cars could also start monitoring Is study ka practical application particularly interesting hai when it comes to the current cars. Driver monitoring systems ki baat karein so abb yeh systems head movements, gaze direction or blinking ko track kar sakte hai, along with signs of fatigue ko bhi detect kiya jaa sakta hai. Fatigue and distraction detectors mein cameras or sensors diye gaye hai jo continuously check karte hai ki driver abhi bhi fit to drive hai ya nahi. Yeh systems driver ke behaviour ko monitor karke signs of tiredness or distraction ko identify karne ka role play karte hai, jisse driving ke time par safety ko maintain kiya jaa sake. Authors ke according, anger ke episodes ke during reactions kaise change hote hai, yeh dekhna future monitoring systems or safety assistants ko develop karne mein help kar sakta hai. Aise systems heightened emotional state ko detect kar payenge and uske basis par timely intervention bhi provide kar sakte hai, especially jab driver ka emotional state normal level se more aggressive ya heightened ho. This doesn't necessarily mean that the car has to determine ki hum "angry" hai based on just a facial expression. Instead, the system different behavioural and contextual cues ko combine kar sakta hai to understand the situation and then decide when the warning levels need to be increased or when certain driver assistance features need to be activated. Basically, facial expression ke saath-saath other inputs bhi consider kiye jaa sakte hai, allowing the system to better understand the driver's behaviour and respond accordingly. Yahin par autonomous emergency braking ka role aata hai. Modern cars abb already capable hai of intervening when they detect that a collision is about to happen and the driver time par react nahi kar pata hai. Automatic emergency braking system ko isi purpose ke liye design kiya gaya hai, jahan ye either collision ko avoid karne ke efforts karte hai ya phir impact hone ki situation mein uske consequences ko reduce karne ka role play karte hai. The study doesn't explain why it happens Ek last important caveat ki baat karein so, researchers ne anger or certain avoidance responses ke between ek link notice kiya hai, although the study alone does not establish the exact psychological mechanism behind this difference. Means, researchers ne dono ke between ek connection zaroor identify kiya hai, but abhi yeh clearly establish nahi hua ki psychological level par exactly kya mechanism is difference ko explain karta hai. It does not mean ki all angry drivers danger ko worse perceive karte hai ya phir anger ki wajah se hamesha reflexes reduce ho jaate hai. What it does provide is a particular valuable snapshot because yeh analyze karta hai ki jab danger already car ke saamne aa chuka ho so driver ka reaction kaisa hota hai. Studied near misses mein dekha gaya ki jab driver angry state mein driving kar raha tha, so conflict ko avoid karne ki try karne ki probability lower thi and jab reaction diya bhi gaya, so braking or steering ko combine karne wale maneuvers bhi comparatively low dekhe gaye. Driving ke time anger ki baat karein so, yeh sirf kuch minutes pehle hum kis tarah se drive kar rahe hai usko hi change nahi karta, but it also seems to influence what we do during those few seconds when an accident ko avoid karna abhi bhi possible hota hai. In simple words, road par anger effect sirf driving behaviour tak limited nahi rehta, rather woh un critical few seconds mein hamare decisions ko bhi influence karta hai when there is still a chance to avoid a crash. News Source: Motor.es Image Source: Shutterstock