Project summary:
Aggressive driving is a prevalent and concerning driving behavior that can increase crash risk, injuries, and unsafe roadway environments. This project explored two ways to reduce aggressive driving:
Supporting family members and friends to have constructive conversations with drivers who engage in aggressive driving
The CHSC team conducted interviews with friends and family members of people who drive aggressively to understand bystander experiences and what supports they need to address aggressive driving. Then, researchers developed and tested a three-step bystander intervention with people who reported having a friend or family member who drives aggressively. Results from intervention testing showed that, with the support of the three-step intervention, friends and family members can feasibly and effectively interact and have conversation to address aggressive driving.
Developing effective messages to encourage safer driving behaviors
The CHSC team developed messages to reduce aggressive driving through promoting prosocial driving, cognitive reappraisal, and adaptive responses and tested those messages with drivers who reported recently engaging in aggressive driving. Findings suggest that drivers respond positively to these types of messages and messages can help encourage safer driving, reduce aggressive driving, and strengthen a positive traffic safety culture.
The project resulted in practical resources for individuals, community leaders, and traffic safety professionals to help reduce aggressive driving.
Resources to help bystanders reduce aggressive driving:
- Are You Concerned About Someone’s Risky Driving? A Conversation Guide
A practical guide for family members and friends who are concerned about a loved one's risky driving. The guide provides strategies: expressing concern and connecting to the person’s values, comparing driving behaviors to how they would act in other settings, and addressing misperceptions or encouraging different responses to frustrating situations. The guide includes conversation examples and tips for navigating difficult conversations in a calm, respectful, and supportive way. - Engaging Bystanders to Reduce Aggressive Driving: A Toolkit for Community Leaders
The toolkit provides community leaders and traffic safety partners with practical tools to engage bystanders in efforts to reduce aggressive driving. It includes guidance on supporting bystanders, talking points, a community partner identification tool, and ready-to-use social media, email, newsletter, and printable outreach materials. The resources are designed to help communities promote the conversation guide and encourage people to speak up about aggressive driving. - Engaging Bystanders to Reduce Aggressive Driving Project Summary
A brief overview of the research, findings, and recommendations for engaging bystanders to address aggressive driving.
Resources to develop effective messages:
- Guidance for Developing Effective Messages to Address Aggressive Driving
Practical guidance for developing messages that encourage drivers to reflect on their behavior and make safer choices. - Developing Messages to Reduce Aggressive Driving Project Summary
A summary of the research conducted to develop and test messages designed to encourage safer driving and reduce aggressive driving.
Project Final Report
Detailed information about the research and recommendations.
Learn More
To learn more about the project from the principal investigator Dr. Bridget Hanson, please watch the following video:
This project is sponsored by the Traffic Safety Culture Transportation Pooled Fund TPF-5(444) and led by Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) in cooperation with U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. The project's final report has been accepted by MDT.
Disclaimer: This webpage reflects the views of the authors, who are solely responsible for the content. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or official policies of MDT, the US DOT, and Montana State University.