Emotions and driving — Utah Permit Test

Emotions increase a driver’s risk by interfering with their thinking, creating a lack of attention, and interrupting their ability to process information.

An argument replayed at the wheel uses the same attention the road needs, and the road does not wait for it.

Emotions can increase your risk by interfering with your thinking ability, creating a lack of attention, and interrupting your ability to process information.

A driver may not be able to drive well if they are overly worried, excited, afraid, angry, or depressed.

Five different moods, one effect. Each of them quietly takes attention away from what is happening in front of the car.

You may not be able to drive well if you are overly worried, excited, afraid, angry, or depressed.

A driver who is angry or worried should take a short walk or nap and stay off the road until the symptoms have passed.

Waiting out a temper costs twenty minutes. Driving through one costs whatever the next mistake costs.

If you are angry or worried, give yourself time to cool off. Take a short walk or nap, but stay off the road until the symptoms have passed.

A driver should never let a friend or relative drive if they have been drinking.

The person who has been drinking is the worst judge of whether they should drive. Somebody sober has to make the call.

Never let a friend or relative drive if they have been drinking.

How do strong emotions raise a Utah driver’s risk?

By interfering with their thinking. An argument replayed at the wheel uses the same attention the road needs, and the road does not wait for it. Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.51: “Emotions can increase your risk by interfering with your thinking ability, creating a lack of attention, and interrupting your ability to process information.”