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Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Today's Print

Road rage on the rise

HOT weather and mind-blowing traffic gridlock in Metro Manila, where nearly 15 million people live, have viciously combined yet again to contribute to the frustration and stress that point to road rage.

Last year, an average 3.82 million vehicles traveled through Metro Manila on a daily basis, an increase of about 20,000 vehicles compared to the previous year.

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Included in the statistics are 1.5 million cars, 125,000 jeepneys, 93,000 trucks and 87,000 plus taxis.

Metro Manila, the country’s educational and industrial center, which holds the record for the worst vehicular traffic congestion among Southeast Asian urbanized cities, continues to experience heavy vehicular traffic daily, with motorists spending a long span of time each year stuck in traffic.

The high volume of vehicles on the roads, especially during peak hours, contributes to this congestion, with many on the road in deep conviction of perceived impediments to their progress and feeling of being at risk due to reckless driving.

A potential cause of anger while driving is feeling rushed due to traffic, with the underlying argument that when one is short on time while driving to one’s destination, one may feel frustrated particularly when one comes across a situation that slows one down, which might cause one to drive in a more hurried, risky way.

Earlier this month, a road rage altercation in the eastern outskirts of the metropolis turned fatal after a shooting incident claimed the life of one of four victims, prompting renewed discussions on proposed legislation to penalize road rage.

We note that since 2022, six House bills have been filed – all pending with the House Committee on Transportation to this date – aiming to reduce the number of road rage incidents, with the first filed by San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes.

Robes explained to reporters that penalizing aggressive behavior “sends a strong message that violence on the road, verbal or physical, has no place in civilized society” – arguing that passing such bills would be more “preventive than reactive” when it comes to road rage, as “deterrence starts with definition.”

The most common adjacent triggers of road rage include one’s progress being impeded as by slow driving, being put at risk, instance reckless behavior of other drivers, as well as discourtesy or hostility of other drivers.

Depression, bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder are also a few examples of mental health conditions that can lead to road rage. People with these conditions may have difficulty regulating their emotions, which can make them more prone to explosive outbursts while driving.

Other studies show that high temperatures or hot weather can increase motorists’ tendency to engage in road rage, with experts defining this as the heat hypothesis.

Heavy traffic also leads to stress, impatience and frustrations which could escalate to pugnacious attitude on the road.

Another factor is anxiety, a mental health concern common among individuals experiencing stress at work or having problems at home.

Experts said such individuals must seek professional help for the proper personality management and regulation of their strong emotions, adding the government must consider mental health assessments for those applying for a driver’s license.

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