In today’s highly-stressful world, it’s only natural that sometimes people will need to find an outlet for their bottled-up rage; unfortunately, all too often, that outlet is coming for more and more people when they find themselves behind the wheel of a car. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, road rage is one of the biggest dangers facing motorists today, with this malady accounting for approximately 56 percent of all car accidents in recent years. Often, these incidents can unleash aggressive tendencies in drivers – including speeding, tailgating, cutting other drivers off, and other extreme examples of unsafe driving practices – resulting in high-speed crashes, serious injuries, and even death.
What is road rage?
Road rage can take many forms, but they generally all serve the same purpose- the need to intimidate or release frustration while driving, often caused by an interaction with another motorist. The behaviors can range from rude and offensive gestures, verbal insults, physical threats or dangerous driving methods targeted toward another driver or a pedestrian, but regardless of the form it takes, road rage at its very core is a dangerous practice that always results in more harm than good.
Some common forms of aggressive driving born out of road rage includes speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of lanes, failing to yield, cutting off or illegally passing other cars, ignoring traffic lights and signs, flashing headlights, and honking horns, among other violations of traffic safety laws. This behavior – coupled with high vehicle speeds leading to a lesser amount of control or ability to react of a change in traffic conditions – can result in an extremely dangerous situation and all too often, a loss of life.
Why do people get road rage?
People exhibiting road rage may be doing so for any number of reasons unrelated to traffic conditions; they may be having issues at home or at the office that are causing issues that are bleeding over into the rest of their lives, or they could simply just have anger management problems that are sorely in need of addressing. But regardless of the cause, when these individuals are put in a situation they cannot control – such as being cut off or being stuck behind a slower driver – their tempers may flare and aggressive tendencies may rise…often with tragic results.
How to avoid road rage
If you are a driver and have reoccurring issues with road rage, you may want try and recognize the situations that may trigger your temper and do what you can to avoid them. Consider pulling your vehicle over so you can calm down, or have a passenger take over driving for a while. And it never hurts to give the other drivers on the road the benefit of the doubt when an honest mistake is made, as is often the case on a busy, congested highway.
On the other hand, if you are a victim of road rage, you should always take immediate steps to stay both calm and safe in a potentially hazardous situation. Try and put some space between yourself and the aggressive driver, and refrain from reacting or responding to their behavior, which would only enrage them further. If the road rage-afflicted driver attempts to step up their efforts to put you in danger, so not confront them. Always stay in your car with the doors locked, and don’t hesitate to call the police if you feel you are in danger.
What do I do if I'm a victim of road rage?
If the situation has resulted in an accident and liability is involved, be it as a result of personal injury or damage to property, make sure to exchange insurance information with the other driver, call law enforcement to make an official report, and be sure to contact an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options.
Hurt in a road rage incident? Contact Our Team of Personal Injury Attorneys: When you’ve been in any automobile collision, you should not only seek immediate medical treatment, but also consult with legal counsel as soon as possible as well. Whenever you become hurt or injured through no fault of your own – through the neglect, indifference, or willful act of another – you should always be fully compensated, so call a Long Island car accident lawyer at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP at 866-878-6774 now or fill out our simple form for a free consultation.