Road rage linked to exposure to petrol fumes

WHILE THE actions of other drivers may play some part in making us angry when behind the wheel, new research suggests that exposure to petrol fumes might be the real cause of road rage.

The study, which is published in the latest issue of the peer review journal BMC Physiology, shows that rats exposed to vapours from leaded and unleaded petrol become more aggressive.

Amal Kinawy of the psychology department of Cairo University in Egypt, examined the emotionally incendiary properties of gasoline in three groups of male rats, who were exposed to either leaded or unleaded petrol fumes or clean air.

The research found that rats exposed to either type of gasoline showed a significantly higher rate of anxiety and emotionality than those in the control group.

This included increased aggressive behaviour such as more time spent in belligerent postures and a rise in actual physical attacks.

Examination of the rats’ brains after the experiment also revealed significant differences between all three groups.

“Rats exposed to unleaded gasoline showed indications of increased damage caused by free radicals and altered levels of neurotransmitters in the brain cortex region, in comparison with the control or leaded gasoline groups,” said Ms Kinawy.

Millions of people around the world are exposed to vapours while refuelling their cars, from exhaust fumes and, in some instances, from sniffing petrol as a means to getting high.

However, while intrigued by the latest research, Conor Faughnan, public affairs manager of AA Roadwatch, is unconvinced by its findings.

Mr Faughnan said a number of different theories had been put forward to explain road rage and that there had been attempts made elsewhere to have it classified as a mental illness.

In particular, some specialists have linked road rage to a condition known as Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), which is characterised by sudden uncontrolled acts of aggressive behaviour, often in what would otherwise be calm individuals.

“Road rage is generally understood to be a psychological phenomenon and there are a number of factors which make it unique,” said Mr Faughnan.

“In evolutionary terms, we are programmed to have a non-aggressive reaction to people we meet face to face, but once in a car people feel as though they are trapped in their own cocoon and, therefore, the social urge to moderate your reaction to situations may be absent,” he said.

“It is in many ways a perfect storm-type situation where a person doesn’t feel the usual restrictions and, as a result, are less likely to act as calmly as they would outside of their car.”

While no recent figures are available, a nationwide survey carried out by Lansdowne Market Research on behalf of the Irish Insurance Federation in August 2007 revealed that three in 10 motorists in Ireland admitted to having had feelings of road rage.