As we continue bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic, the roads are getting busier as more people get back behind the wheel and into the swing of regular life. One of the downsides to this: road rage is increasing across Canada as more cars take to the roads. While it can be easy to get frustrated by poor drivers around you, it is never the right answer to take your anger out in the form of road rage.

In 2021, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported that the number of fatal vehicle collisions caused by speeding and aggressive driving rose by 31%, with 81 fatalities compared to 62 in 2020. In a more recent study, RatesDotCA conducted a survey in 2022 that found 78% of Canadian drivers polled had witnessed road rage since the start of the year, and 51% engaged in it.

Road rage is a highly dangerous and ineffective way to deal with anger behind the wheel. You should never put your life or others’ lives at risk by tailgating, flashing headlights, cutting cars off, exiting your vehicle or any other high-risk retaliations. Even if lives aren’t lost and nobody is severely injured during a road rage incident, you can still be caught by police and damage your permanent record forever. Always remember to keep calm while driving and drive away from any potential road rage incidents. Road rage is never worth it.