Driving anger has been a recognized psychological construct for over three decades, shaping the understanding of emotional responses behind the wheel. At the 2014 International Conference of Applied Psychology, a symposium was held celebrating 20 years of driving anger research. As part of that symposium, a talk titled Driving Anger: A 20-Year Journey—Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going? was presented. This presentation revisits that milestone and extends the narrative by examining developments over the past decade.


The talk begins by revisiting foundational definitions of anger and tracing the trajectory of research since the concept's inception. Particular attention is given to situational triggers—those moments and contexts that provoke anger in drivers—and explores whether these triggers have evolved in response to shifting demands on modern drivers, such as increased congestion, technological distractions, and changing road cultures.


Recent Australian research is highlighted, including findings from an online program designed to support drivers recognise their anger while driving, and avoid or manage that before it becomes aggression (the Reducing Aggressive Driving Program). Insights are also drawn from a nationally representative survey using the Measure for Angry Driving—a contemporary scale developed to assess the prevalence and intensity of driving anger in today's transport landscape.


The presentation concludes by posing a forward-looking question: What will the next decade reveal about driving anger? Will it remain a persistent challenge within the transport system, or will new interventions and societal shifts reshape its impact?