Road rage is a major issue for motorists in Florida and across the United States. According to AAA, at least 80% of adult Americans admit that they have felt road rage at some point within the last year. Whether stuck in traffic while on your way to an appointment or behind a slow vehicle in the fast lane, it may be easy to become enraged while behind the wheel.
The aggressive driving behaviors that accompany road rage can put others’ lives in danger. In fact, aggressive driving was involved in a least 56% of deadly car accidents over a five-year period, as reported by the Insurance Information Institute.
Identifying the signs of road rage
People who have road rage are often easy to spot, and often display the following behaviors:
- Blocking others from changing lanes or cutting off other motorists
- Speeding
- Honking the horn erratically, yelling or using obscene hand gestures
- Tailgating or following other vehicles too closely
- Failing to adhere to traffic signals, stop signs and other drivers’ right of way
Some extreme cases of road rage escalate to the point where angry drivers may exit their vehicles and confront other drivers, possibly resulting in physical altercations. Drivers may also hit into other motorists, intentionally causing an accident.
Knowing what to do
If you have an encounter with an aggressive driver, your first reaction may be to become involved. You may start to race another vehicle or engage in a blocking or cutting off road game. Yet, law enforcement officers urge drivers to avoid becoming involved with angry drivers, as this can escalate the problem.
Instead, you should avoid eye contact and contact the local law enforcement department. A trained officer can take care of the issue and minimize your risk of becoming involved in a serious accident.