When you’re on the road, always watch out for the other guy.
Today, that’s an increasingly good piece of advice. It seems like everyone on the highway is stressed out and angry. In the worst instances, that frustration manifests itself as road rage.
CBS News tells us road rage is not only increasing, the incidents of road rage that involve a gun are on the rise:
- In 2016 there were more than 600 gun-fueled road rage incidents in the United States.
- Florida led the country in incidents, at 146 over the past two years.
- In one of the latest incidents, NFL star Will Smith was shot during an altercation that started out as road rage.
According to the AAA, aggressive drivers cause more than half of all the deaths associated with traffic accidents.
What is Road Rage?
From tailgating to gesticulating, aggressive driving is rampant and on the rise; the AAA says 80% of drivers say they have participated in acting out in a road rage incident over the past year. Their study showed the percentage of Americans that participated in road rage in the last year, including:
- Tailgating51% (104 million drivers)
- Yelling 47% (95 million drivers)
- Honking 45% (91 million drivers)
- Making gestures33% (67 million drivers)
- Blocking lane changes 24% (49 million drivers)
- Bumping or ramming 3% (5.7 million drivers)
HealthDay says that road rage is actually part of a disorder called “Intermittent Explosive Disorder” (IED). IED affects to 7% of the population. When you take that population, add life’s daily stresses, and then put them behind the wheel of a 3,000-ton vehicle, you’ve got a potentially dangerous situation on your hands.
Diffusing Road Rage
The car insurance carrier, Geico, has a good checklist for ways to help diffuse a road rage situation on the highway:
- Leave a little early so you don’t have to rush.
- Listen to music or a book on tape to keep yourself calm.
- Don’t make eye contact with people.
- Practice courtesy, by mouthing, “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry,” to other drivers – and not anything else.
- If someone is tailgating you, move to another lane.
- Use your horn very rarely.
While these are all great suggestions, if you are on the road fairly frequently, it is likely you may find yourself on the receiving end of road rage; or, you may yourself lose control of your emotions. No matter what, just remember the goal is to get home safe so you can live to drive another day.
If you notice dangerous or aggressive driving, call to report it.
Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been the victim of a road rage incident, contact your Las Vegas car accident lawyer, Thunder Law. We have experience on both sides of the aisle and can help if you are a victim of road rage that has resulted in injury. Call us today for a free consultation.