Road Rage as a Type of Violation of Well-Being in Traffic: The Case of Turkey

Abstract

One of the essential components for understanding a life with dignity and with human rights is the right to health. The World Health Organization defines “health” as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Physical and social well-being is not enough, and the individual’s mental well-being should also be realized. Anger is one of the most important factors affecting the mental, as well as the physical, health of individuals. Anger can be both a cause and a consequence of poor mental health. Driving anger can be defined as the anger that occurs while driving, and its level can be associated with aggressive and risky driving, loss of concentration and vehicular control, and near miss accidents in traffic. In this research, the factorability of the 14-item short form of the Driver Anger Scale (DAS) was investigated in the Turkish population. The data were further analyzed for various demographics and independent variables. The short form of the DAS can be reliably used for Turkish drivers as well. A safe driving culture must be substantially popularized via educatory applications within digital or classroom environments to control, regulate, and lessen traffic violence. Effective audits and deterrent regulations are also important with respect to decreasing driving anger and violence.