According to a poll by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly eight out of ten U.S. drivers admitted to displaying anger, aggressiveness, or road rage at least once in the preceding year. It’s a scary statistic to consider. Approximately 8 million drivers on the road participate in more severe actions such as purposefully bumping or ramming another car, or stepping out of their vehicle to engage in a dispute.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aggressive driving accounts for around two-thirds of all collision deaths, and men are three times more likely than women to be angry or agitated while driving. Furthermore, aggressive driving has been identified as a major contributor to the rise in deadly car accidents. If you have been in this type of car accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
How to maintain your own safety
It’s vital to realize that you can’t control the conduct of other drivers, but you can manage your own. Nearly nine out of ten drivers consider aggressive driving to be a “severe threat to their own safety,” with tailgating by another car being the most popular example.
“Far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that might become lethal,” said Jurek Grabowski, the foundation’s research director. Other prevalent actions included vehicles shouting at or blasting their horn at another car, as well as furious gestures directed at another motorist.
Learning how to deal with road rage might save you from the potentially fatal nightmare that typically accompanies an aggressive road rage episode. To assist reduce road rage, AAA recommends the following:
- Never induce another driver to modify their speed or direction as a result of your actions. That means you shouldn’t make another motorist use their brakes or turn the steering wheel as a result of what you’ve done.
- Be forgiving and tolerant. The other motorist might be having a terrible day or made an honest mistake. Assume it isn’t a personal matter.
- Avoid eye contact, don’t make motions, keep a safe distance around your car, and call 9-1-1 if necessary.
The growth in road rage and aggressive driving is alarming, and it has turned into a big problem. Contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker right once if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to no fault of your own. We’ve assisted hundreds of thousands of vehicle accident victims with their personal injury claims, and we can do the same for you.
Contact us by phone at 800-333-0000 or by email using our case submission form to schedule a free, private consultation with no commitment.
