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Assessing Road Rage Victimization and Perpetration in the Ontario Adult Population

The Impact of Illicit Drug Use and Psychiatric Distress

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Abstract

Background

To investigate the association among illicit drug use, psychiatric distress and road rage victimization and offending. Particular attention is given to the most serious forms of road rage behaviour.

Methods

The data are based on the 2002 CAMH Monitor and include a sample of 2,421 Ontario adults aged 18 and older. Logistic regression analyses were conducted with illicit drug use and psychiatric distress (GHQ) and demographic factors as independent variables.

Results

Past-year road rage victimization was reported by 42% of the sample and 31% reported any type of road rage offending. Approximately 5% were classified as respondents with serious road rage involvement. The logistic regression analyses revealed significant relationships between illicit drug use and road rage outcomes. Cannabis use was significantly associated with general road rage victimization and offending, while stimulant use substantially increased the likelihood of victimization and membership in the serious road rage classification. Psychiatric distress significantly increased the odds of both road rage victimization and serious road rage involvement.

Conclusion

These data reveal different indicators of road rage offending, victimization and serious involvement. Further work is needed to clarify the mechanisms associated with the relationship among stimulant use, psychiatric distress and serious road rage involvement.

Résumé

Contexte

Pour étudier l’association entre l’utilisation illicite de drogue, la détresse psychiatrique et victimisation et offenser de fureur de route. Une attention particulière est donnée aux formes les plus sérieuses de comportement de fureur de route.

Méthodes

Les données sont basées sur le moniteur de 2002 CAMH et incluent un groupe de 2 421 adultes d’Ontario âgés de 18 ans et plus. Des analyses logistiques de régression ont été conduites avec l’utilisation illicite de drogue et la détresse psychiatrique (GHQ) et les facteurs démographiques en tant que variables indépendantes.

Résultats

Après la fureur de route d’année la victimisation a été rapportée de 42 % de l’échantillon et 31 % a rapporté n’importe quel type d’offenser de fureur de route. Approximativement 5 % ont été classifiés comme répondants avec la participation sérieuse de fureur de route. Les analyses logistiques de régression ont indiqué des rapports significatifs entre l’utilisation de drogue et les résultats illicites de fureur de route. L’utilisation de cannabis a été sensiblement associée à la victimisation générale de fureur de route et à offenser, alors que l’utilisation de stimulant augmentait sensiblement la probabilité de la victimisation et de l’adhésion dans la classification sérieuse de fureur de route. La détresse psychiatrique a augmenté de manière significative la chance de la victimisation de fureur de route et de la participation sérieuse de fureur de route.

Conclusion

Ces données indiquent différents indicateurs d’offenser de fureur de route, de victimisation et de participation sérieuse. Davantage de travail est nécessaire pour clarifier les mécanismes liés au rapport entre l’utilisation de stimulant, la détresse psychiatrique et la participation sérieuse de fureur de route.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Urban Health Initiatives, University College Room 259A, University of Toronto, 15 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H7, Canada

    Jennifer E. Butters PhD

  2. Social, Prevention and Health Policy Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada

    Robert E. Mann PhD & Reginald G. Smart PhD

Authors
  1. Jennifer E. Butters PhD
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  2. Robert E. Mann PhD
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  3. Reginald G. Smart PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer E. Butters PhD.

Additional information

Grant Support and Disclaimer: This research was supported by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), as well as a grant from AUTO21, a member of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) programme that is administered and funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), in partnership with Industry Canada. Project B04-BBB.

The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Centre for Urban Health Initiatives or the University of Toronto.

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Butters, J.E., Mann, R.E. & Smart, R.G. Assessing Road Rage Victimization and Perpetration in the Ontario Adult Population. Can J Public Health 97, 96–99 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405323

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405323

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