The relationship between aggressive driving and driver performance

Organisation: University of Warwick

Date of Publication: April 2023

Uploaded to Knowledge Centre: 12 July 2023

This research found that aggressive drivers have a 5km/h mean faster speed than non-aggressive drivers – and make more mistakes.

The study measured the changes in driving that occur in an aggressive state. Participants, some of whom were asked to recall angry memories to put them in an aggressive state, took part in a driving simulation.

The findings included:

  • Aggressive drivers have a 5km/h mean faster speed than non-aggressive drivers
  • Aggressive drivers also exhibit more mistakes than control groups – such as not indicating when changing lanes

The researchers describe the findings as significant – particularly with regard to the transition towards autonomous vehicles.

Download the report (open access) from Science Direct:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457523000192