Statistics from the Federal Highway Administration indicate that in January of 2009 Americans drove 222 billion miles. While this figure was down from the previous year, it still represents a lot of time spent behind the wheel – and a lot of opportunity to become frustrated, angry and stressed. And roadways full of drivers without the Emotional Intelligence (EI) skills to cope with those negative emotions is a prescription for disaster.

James and Nahl (1) identified fifteen well-known emotional challenges people encounter on the roadways. Any one or combination of these challenges or stressors might provoke a driver's hostility and contentiousness. Number fifteen on the list is "undertrained in EI." It becomes clear that development of EI skills would help drivers better cope with the frustration and stress brought on by the other 14 emotional challenges or stressors when we examine a sample of the list.

Constriction:When we're stuck in traffic, inching along (if we're lucky), we become anxious about making it to our appointments or commitments on time. The worry and exasperation this constriction provokes can cloud the driver's thinking and cause him or her to take risks to avoid the situation.

Lack of Control:What about the driver who drives too slowly or the driver who drives too close to our bumper? In this situation our progress is driven by the pulse of the traffic. If the road is congested, we move slower and as the road clears we can move faster. Or we feel the driver who is riding our bumper is pressuring us to move more swiftly. This lack of control can be stress-producing, leading to frustration and sometimes anger. And when we feel those emotions, we tend to not think clearly and may become irrational and drive foolishly.

Put in Danger:When we encounter those aggressive, impatient drivers who frighten us with their risk-taking maneuvers we may become enraged and fearful as we sense the danger of a near-miss. The trauma we experience from such a situation can leave us shaky, stressed and irate as we think about what might have happened had someone else's careless driving caused a collision.

Territoriality:And what about those who must control the roadway? They don't like it if we try to pass them and many times we find ourselves playing the game of "who can be in front." This territoriality is so typical. Try to remember a time when you've been on a trip and not found yourself annoyed by that "red car" that seems to be your constant companion, persistent and unshakable -- won't let you pass and won't move on.

The examples above present just a few of the stressors related to driving. It's easy to see how the feelings they arouse can result in aggressiveness and even road rage. However, with the last item on James' and Nahl's list, emotional intelligence, drivers would have the capability to easily cope with any driving dilemma, manage their emotions and eliminate stress in-the-moment. With this skill they'd be able to think clearly and prevent the negative emotions that may lead to foolish or careless driving. Development of emotional competence won't reduce the time a driver spends waiting at the toll booth, but it can significantly lessen the toll on his or her heart and health.

(1) James, Leon and Nahl, Diane (2002). "Dealing With Stress And Pressure In The Vehicle. Taxonomy of Driving Behavior: Affective, Cognitive, Sensorimotor." Chapter In J. Peter Rothe, Editor.Driving Lessons - Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer. University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Canada.