What is Road Rage?
Road Rage is driving a vehicle in an aggressive manner that could endanger the safety or property of another driver, motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian.
Some examples of driver behaviors during Road Rage incidents:
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Running red lights/ stop signs
- Tailgating/following too closely
- Improper lane changes, passing, or turning
- Illegally driving on the shoulder of the road (emergency lane), in a ditch/median, or on sidewalk
- Operating the vehicle in an erratic, reckless, careless, or negligent manner
- Failure to yield right of way
- Failure to obey traffic laws, signs, and devices
- Failure to signal
- Failure to yield to emergency personnel and construction zone speed limits
- Racing
- Cutting off another vehicle/weaving
- Slamming on brakes in front of a tailgater
- Forcing a driver off the road
- Rude hand or facial gestures at other drivers
- Yelling/cursing
- Repeatedly honking the horn
- Repeatedly flashing the headlights
- Throwing objects
- Ramming/sideswiping
The dangers of Road Rage behavior:
- Potential crash involving
- Vehicle damage
- Injuries, potentially life-threatening
- Death – drivers, passengers, others
- Shooting resulting in a crash, injury, or death
If you encounter an angry or aggressive motorist:
- Keep your vehicle doors locked and windows up
- Don’t follow too closely
- Do not underestimate a driver’s potential for aggression
- If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move to your right and allow them to pass
- When merging, make sure you have plenty of room and use your turn signal
- If someone cuts you off, slow down and give them room to merge into your lane
- If a speeding driver is tailgating you, safely change lanes when able
- Making gestures might anger the other driver; create distance and avoid confrontation
- If another driver is acting angry, don’t make eye contact
- Do not chase the aggressive driver. If possible, have a passenger take a video and/or make a note of the vehicle’s description (color, spoiler or other accessories, stickers, license number, damage)
- Motorists who are being followed by an aggressive driver should drive to the nearest police department when possible, or drive to a well-lit, populated area and call 911
