Something new is happening in my town and it may be happening in yours. The courteous female drivers are disappearing. Female drivers are speeding, tail-gateing, cutting others off, running stop signs, passing unsafely, and talking on cell phones. Driving habits like these are a danger to passengers and everyone else on the road.

Since 1990 aggressive driving has increased seven per cent a year, according to the Auto Association for Traffic Study. Male drivers used to be the aggressive ones, but things have changed. Female drivers are moving from risk-taking to road rage. A report from the “William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law” notes that “women’s involvement in non-fatal accidents in 2000 was greater than that of men.” The title of the report: “Soccer Moms and Road Ragers: Remedies to Curb Aggressive Driving.”

RoadRagers.com has studied driving styles and compares them by gender in a 2004 report. Replies from the 11,120 study participants point to some alarming trends:

* 72.8% of female drivers said they tail-gated another driver to make them speed up

* 80.4% of female drivers said they use obscene gestures with other drivers

* 71.7% of female drivers said they blow the horn to show their irritation with other drivers

The Cincinnati, Ohio Police Department (District 2) has posted a road rage report on its Web site. Based in information from the American Automobile Association, it says traffic violations — speeding, tail-gateing, failure to signal, reckless driving — often lead to road rage. Lateness is the number one reason for road rage and this seems to be the case in my city. Apparently, being on time is more important than being alive.

The Massachusetts College of Emergency Room Physicians (MACEP) has posted road rage information on its Web site, “Road Rage — Life in the Aggressive Lane.” According to MACEP the aggressive driver is often an “ordinary citizen with no history of crime, violence, or illegal drug use.” MACEP asks drivers to control their stress to prevent violent reactions.

How can you curb aggressive driving and prevent road rage? These suggestions come from the MACEP and my decades of driving experience.

1. Allow more travel time so things like not finding a parking place do not become a problem.

2. Leave at a different time to avoid congestion, traffic jams, and in my city, coal trains.

3. Set passenger rules for your kids: wear your seat belt, no screaming, hitting or blaring music. Enforce these rules and stop the car if necessary.

4. For more comfortable driving add a seat cushion, adjust the air conditioning or heat, and keep beverages within easy reach.

5. Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep-deprived drivers can turn into road ragers.

6. Do some relaxation exercises. Stretch your legs, arms, fingers, and breathe deeply.

7. Ask someone else to drive if you are angry or upset.

8. Learn how to laugh at driving situations and yourself.

Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson