BANGALORE: Research shows that soaring temperature in the city is leading to ill-tempered behaviour among Bangaloreans. Psychologists say increasing tempers and temperature go hand-in-hand.
As per crime records across the city, there has been a steep increase in the number of road rage cases.
An official from the crime department says, “In the last three months, there has been an 80 per cent increase in road rage cases. And most of these cases have been recorded at areas that have slow moving traffic between 10 am and 6 pm.”
Road rage incidents are mainly seen at Jayanagar IV Block, Koramangala Inner Ring Road, Mysore Road, Kengeri, Hosur, Sarjapura and BTM Layout.
As per the Meteorological Department, the city recorded the hottest day of the month on April 5. “There are more hot days ahead, but the pre-monsoon showers are long overdue. We are expecting rains in the next week,” said an MET official.
Psychologist Meenal Sharma says, “The heat has triggered impatience, intolerance and irritation amongst those who travel long hours for work,” she says.
Psychologists also say that most cases of aggression on roads have been reported during peak traffic hours. “A few years ago, road rage was common during the later part of the evening and peak hours starting from 6 pm. Present cases, however, show that there is a steep increase in such cases starting as early as 9 am and becoming worse between 12 noon and 4 pm. This indicates that it is the heat that has led to soaring tempers,” said Arvind Shetty, a research analyst.