Bengaluru: The city witnessed two separate cases of road rage over the past few days, highlighting a disturbing rise in violent confrontations following minor traffic accidents. While one altercation ended in a brawl between a car owner and an autorickshaw driver, another escalated into an assault and theft, with a bike-taxi captain losing his scooter and mobile phone.The first incident occurred on Saturday afternoon near Ayyappaswamy Temple in Banaswadi. According to eyewitnesses, an auto rear-ended a car moving ahead, triggering an argument between the two drivers. Both accused each other of negligent driving and responsibility for the collision. The verbal exchange soon turned violent as the men attacked each other in the middle of the road. Commuters looked on while the car owner’s wife attempted to stop the fight, but the confrontation continued, with the auto driver getting more aggressive. A video clip of the incident has gone viral.In the second case, reported during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, a road accident near Mehkri Circle underpass under Sadashivanagar police limits took a more serious turn. Satish Jadhav, a bike-taxi captain, was ferrying a passenger to Yelahanka when another two-wheeler allegedly rammed into his gearless scooter.In his complaint to Sadashivanagar police, Jadhav stated that both vehicles fell after the collision. The two men on the other bike allegedly blamed him for the accident and demanded money for repairs. When he refused, saying it was an accident and that he had no money, the duo allegedly assaulted him, snatched his mobile phone, and fled with his scooter, leaving him stranded.With cases increasing, keep cool, flash a smile & walk away: ExpertsWith the city’s average speed being 16.6kmph and the time taken to cover 1km being 3.5 minutes, road rage cases are not uncommon. More than 60 cases have already been registered in the first seven months of this calendar year and 120 persons were taken into custody.In contrast, 2023 saw 34 cases, 2024 recorded 32, and 2025 saw incidents rise three-fold to 95. Police started paying attention to road rage cases only from 2023.With such cases on the rise as the city witnesses more gridlocks per hour, TOI spoke to police officers and mental health experts to understand what triggers road rage and how motorists can keep their cool in a traffic-gridlocked city.City police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh requested the public to call police on 112 in such cases. “The parties involved in the incident will be in no mood to hear each other. We request individuals not to take law in their hands. Instead, they can call police and the authorities will handle the situation,” he said.“Road rage usually happens when there is a mismatch between expectation and reality. In cities like Bengaluru, long commute times, traffic congestion, and time pressures significantly lower our frustration tolerance,” said Dr Manasvi M, consultant psychiatrist, Maarga Mind Care. “Even minor triggers — being cut off, overtaken or blocked — are interpreted as personal provocations rather than traffic events. So, it is less about the road itself and more about accumulated stress finding an outlet,” she added.Doctors point out that egos often play a central role. “Road rage incidents are provoked by a mix of proximal factors like traffic, personal problems, peer pressure, and distal factors like ego and superiority complex,” said Dr Gautham M Sukumar, additional professor (epidemiology) and head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans).He noted that many road users operate with a strong sense of righteousness. “There are also ego points like big vehicle versus small vehicle perception, pedestrians versus road users. While most people disperse after verbal altercations, those with a strong ego may escalate into physical fights,” he said.So how to avoid road rage? “Leaving home early to avoid time pressure and anticipating delays can make a big difference. If people avoid wrong-side driving, respect one-way rules, and drive responsibly, the chances of both accidents and road rage reduce significantly,” said Dr N Vyjayanthi Venkataramu, consultant psychiatrist, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital.Dr Manasvi stressed the importance of changing perception while driving. “It is important to stop personalising other drivers’ mistakes. Many actions on the road are impulsive or careless and not directed at you. Practising mindful driving helps — focus on your lane, listen to calm music or podcasts. On highways, speed magnifies risk, so staying calm is crucial,” she said.What if a situation escalates? Dr Gautham said: “Mutually apologise and walk away. If there is an escalation, smile, say sorry, and speak in a soft tone. The other person often assumes hostility, and a loud tone can worsen the situation,” he added.
