ABSTRACT
In order to drive safely through potentially hazardous situations it is necessary that drivers adopt an efficient visual search strategy and have an ability to detect emerging dangerous situations. We suggest that drivers who are frustrated will be less able to detect hazards in the road environment. Many psychological theories link frustration with subsequent feelings of anger and acts of aggression. Anger and aggression when driving have been shown to be associated with increased accident risk. Although most authors have assumed that the link between driving anger and accident risk is because of risks directly incurred through an aggressive driving style, we propose that an additional reason why anger may be associated with accidents is that feelings of frustration and anger directly impair drivers’ ability to detect hazards.
