By Austin Price, Staff Writer

As a young driver, I can safely say that this past year has been a scarier driving experience than any other year of my life. Currently, it seems as if everyone on the road is aggressive, tired, distracted, or risky, and according to recent studies, they are. While bumper to bumper traffic may not be unusual for downtown Denver, it certainly is unprecedented for side streets and back roads. However, with constant construction and lane closures, driving has become more and more of a stressful battle to get to your desired destination without damaging yourself, your surroundings, your car, or the other drivers around you.

Many drivers are left asking themselves why driving, a standard and normalized part of society, has become such a taboo and dangerous situation. Is it stress over finances and the economy? Fear for the future of the environment? Or hesitation in human interaction as a lasting side effect from the COVID-19 pandemic? Better yet, is it a wicked combination of all three? Experts suggest that humans have become more volatile and shorter tempered, and this attitude has impacted their driving.