Whether you’re honking your horn, making rude hand gestures, or shouting at other drivers, road rage can put you and others at risk. It’s best to avoid these behaviors altogether, or at least make sure you keep your distance from aggressive drivers.
Try leaving a little earlier for your trips, so you’re less stressed if things go wrong on the road.
Aggression
Angry drivers are responsible for many dangerous driving incidents. Drivers who are angry may honk at other vehicles, make rude hand gestures, curse and shout. They also might break traffic laws by speeding, changing lanes without signaling or tailgating other drivers. They might even try to run off the road or ram other vehicles. These aggressive behaviors can be very dangerous and may lead to accidents or even murder. Over a seven year period, 218 murders and 12,610 injuries were attributed to road rage. Wiltshire’s road rage statistics showcase the road rage capitals in the world.
The causes of road rage are complex. Some drivers may be on edge because of personal problems, or they might feel frustrated by the slow pace of traffic or other road conditions. Other factors that contribute to road rage include poor-designed roads, weather conditions and traffic congestion. People who spend a lot of time on the road, such as commuters, are more likely to experience stress while driving.
There are a number of things you can do to help prevent road rage. One of the most important is to understand your own triggers and what sets off anger while you’re behind the wheel. If you start to notice that you’re getting annoyed, take a deep breath and pull over to the side of the road for a few minutes. This will give you a chance to cool down and get back into your car more calmly.
Another way to reduce road rage is to listen to soothing music while you drive. This can calm you down and help you focus on the road ahead of you rather than what’s happening around you. It’s also a good idea to avoid listening to loud, fast-paced music that could increase your levels of anger while you’re on the road.
Finally, be sure to check your own vehicle’s safety and security features before you head out onto the highway. If you do encounter a raging driver, stay calm and keep your distance from the vehicle. If the driver follows you, drive to a safe public location such as a gas station or crowded parking lot and call 911 if necessary.
Injury
The anger that fuels road rage can cause the aggressor to take risks on the road that put everyone’s safety at risk. For example, they might speed up to make up for lost time on the road or catch up to a driver they think is acting inappropriately. This speeding, in turn, can increase accident risks by as much as 10-20%, and it can be very dangerous. The raging driver may also decide to change lanes frequently or tailgate behind another vehicle, both of which can be very dangerous. Finally, a driver who has road rage may even get out of their car and confront another person or physically attack them.
In the worst case scenarios, road rage can actually lead to death, which is one reason why it’s so important for drivers to try to remain calm and stay safe. In addition, drivers should refrain from honking or making rude hand gestures to other drivers while driving, as this can be interpreted as an act of aggression and provoke them. They should also avoid looking at another driver’s windows or mirrors too long, as this can be a distraction.
Ultimately, the best thing to do if you find yourself in the presence of an aggressive driver is to pull over as soon as it’s safe and count to ten. This can help you deescalate the situation and let the other driver know that you are not interested in a physical confrontation. If you cannot deescalate the situation on your own, try to drive away from the vehicle or to a crowded public place and call 911.
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a road rage incident, try to remember that it’s probably not personal and that they may just be having a bad day. Remember that no one knows what other people are going through in their lives, so it’s impossible to know if the person who cuts you off was stressed out because they just heard some devastating news or is racing to get to the hospital to save a life.
Loss of Control
Road rage is dangerous because it often leads to out-of-control driving. For example, a driver may lose control while trying to get back at another driver. They might run a red light, T-bone another car, or even kill someone. In addition, a driver with road rage might also try to take revenge on pedestrians or other drivers. If you have a bad reaction while driving, you could be arrested and fined. You may also lose your car insurance coverage if you have an accident as a result of this behavior.
If you’re a victim of an aggressive driving incident, your auto insurance company may drop you, require you to get an SR-22 form, or even take away your license. That’s why it’s important to understand what can cause road rage before you hit the highway.
The most common causes of road rage are anger and stress. Traffic jams, being late to work or school, and the simple frustration of a slow-moving car can trigger road rage. Anger can also stem from general life stress, like financial pressures or relationship problems.
Research has shown that people who experience rage are more likely to make mistakes behind the wheel. For instance, a person might not check their blind spot before switching lanes or may fail to signal when turning. As irritating as these driving mistakes may be, they’re not worth losing control of your vehicle and potentially putting others at risk.
According to psychotherapists and experts, road rage is often a sign of deeper anger and resentment that gets triggered when driving. For example, a woman named Louise was so angry at her father that she acted out on the road. She was so focused on getting revenge that she forgot to check for other cars, and her road rage led to an accident that seriously injured someone.
If you find yourself prone to road rage, take steps to reduce your stress. For example, eat well and sleep enough so you’re alert. Limit your alcohol intake, which can make you more irritable. Listen to soothing music or audiobooks while driving. And put pictures of your loved ones on the dashboard of your vehicle so you’re reminded to stay calm. If you’re being tailgated or pulled over by a raging driver, pull off the road in a safe place and let them pass. It’s better to take an exit than to engage in a potentially dangerous confrontation that puts your own safety and the lives of other drivers at risk.
PTSD
Angry, aggressive driving behaviors are the cause of many highway accidents. It can cause serious injuries to occupants of the vehicle as well as others who are on the road. Road rage can also distract the driver and cause them to lose control of their vehicle.
Road rage can be caused by a variety of factors including stress, anger, and drug or alcohol use. People who have a mental health condition like depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD may be more likely to experience road rage because they have trouble regulating their emotions. If you have a mental health condition, talk to your doctor about treatment options that could help you manage it better and avoid dangerous road rage behavior.
Some drivers lash out in response to slow driving, unsafe maneuvers, and other things they see while on the road. Sadly, these drivers can often be physically attacked by other motorists. In some cases, both the attacker and the victim are injured in these attacks. The victims of these assaults can seek compensation from the perpetrator for their physical and emotional injuries.
In addition to the dangers of being hit by another car, road rage can also lead to suicide. According to Psychology Today, there are more than 200 suicides in the United States each year that can be linked to road rage incidents. People who engage in road rage can end up with major legal consequences. They can get a traffic ticket, have their license suspended or revoked, pay higher auto insurance rates, be sued by the victim of their violent behavior, or even face criminal charges for injuring or killing other motorists or pedestrians.
While it’s easy to focus on the immediate consequences of road rage, it’s important for everyone to understand the long-term effects. Injuries can have a lasting impact on your quality of life. You can suffer from chronic pain, loss of mobility, and emotional trauma. You might even need psychological treatment or medication to overcome your PTSD and other symptoms of a serious road rage incident. If you have been involved in a road rage incident, talk to a personal injury attorney to learn more about how you can recover compensation for your injuries.