Aggressive Driving & Road Rage

An inexplicable scene confronted Ocala drivers in a February case of road rage on steroids: A jacked-up pick-up truck literally parked on top of a Toyota Camry to squelch the threats of the Camry driver.

Indeed, after a period of reportedly reckless driving, an irate Camry driver exited his car to yell at, pummel, and threaten the pickup driver. In an attempt to end the attack, the truck actually backed up on top of the Camry, smashing it to smithereens. Luckily, neither driver was seriously injured, but the situation did cause widespread alarm.

Road rage does not often reach this level of action, but it is surely common, and the results can be dangerous, if not deadly.

What is Road Rage?

Road rage encompasses any number of driving issues. Some are indicative of rage, while others enrage fellow drivers. Reckless moves that put the safety of others at risk should be avoided under all circumstances:

• Speeding;
• Changing lanes with no signal;
• Weaving in and out of traffic;
• Passing too closely;
• Tailgating;
• Not allowing others to merge or change lanes;
• Racing;
• Impolite gestures;
• Verbal assaults;
• Laying on the horn;
• Flashing high beams menacingly;
• Pulling over to fight;
• Brandishing weapons.

What is Behind Road Rage? 

What makes some drivers so hostile on the road? The reasons behind road rage are as varied as the drivers themselves. Some just get frustrated with what they perceive to be inappropriate driving by others. Some have more complex psychological issues behind their behaviors:

• A need to control;
• A need to put perceived wrong-doers in their place;
• A lack of emotional intelligence;
• A problem with anger-management;
• Narcissism;
• A need to dominate others.

Consequences

In addition to tickets, arrests, insurance cost increases, and license revocations, road rage and aggressive driving can have serious consequences. Vehicle damage is common, costing drivers thousands of dollars. More importantly, injuries, and even fatalities, are not uncommon.

In fact, road rage is one of the leading causes of vehicle collisions. Roughly one-third of accidents across the country are tied to behaviors associated with road rage. Some startling statistics shed a light on just how serious this problem is:

• Over one-third of road rage incidents involve a firearm;
• One-half of drivers who are the victim of road rage while driving respond with similar behaviors;
• Over 200 murders over a 7-year period were associated with road rage;
• Thousands of injuries that were 100 percent preventable occur every year due to road rage.

Have You Suffered Injuries Due to a Raging Driver? 

If you or a loved one has been the victim of road rage, you may have incurred compensable injuries. The experienced team at Barbas, Nunez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian takes pride in fighting for justice for our clients. Contact our Tampa office today for a free, confidential consultation.

Resource:

psychologytoday.com/blog/the-act-violence/201301/the-psychology-road-rage