Road rage is defined as aggressive or angry behavior by the driver of an automobile or other type of vehicle such as a motorcycle. Aggressive behaviors can include rude gestures, verbal insults and deliberately driving in a threatening or unsafe manner.
Although road rage can usually just be dismissed, sometimes it can lead to assault, altercations, car accidents and even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations statistics from 1997 note that about 13,000 people had been injured or killed in a car crash caused by aggressive driving since 1990.
Some studies show that on average about 1,500 people are injured or killed in road rage accidents each year.
Although it is difficult to know what another driver will do, we can take actions to make sure we do not drive aggressively and endanger the lives of others. The following tips could make driving less stressful, especially during rush hour.
- Listen to soothing and mellow music
- Allow yourself plenty of time to get where you need to be, don’t have unreasonable expectations for how long it will take to get somewhere as it could cause you to get angry when you hit traffic
- Consider driving during hours that are not as busy or on roads with less traffic
- Avoid driving when you’re stressed or angry
- Try to relax and make yourself comfortable when you’re stuck in traffic, no use in getting angry about a situation you cant control
- If public transportation is available, try using it a few times a week to avoid the stress of driving
To avoid being a victim or road rage, try to get out of an aggressive drivers way and do not challenge these drivers by speeding up, tailgating them or preventing them from changing lanes. Do not make crude gestures at other drivers and in some cases you may want to avoid eye contact altogether.
Road rage is a serious problem, but also one that can be prevented with the right methods. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a road rage accident, contact a personal injury lawyer from O’Connor, Acciani & Levy at (877) 288-3241 to schedule a free consultation.
