Involved in a Road Rage Accident in Colorado Springs

According to a recent news story, a lady who mistakenly cut off another car in Colorado Springs found herself physically avoiding gunfire in an alleged road rage accident. The accident occurred on a Saturday afternoon when the 20-year-old lady claims the car she mistakenly cut off pulled up next to her car and fired several bullets from a pellet or.22- caliber rifle. The glass on the driver’s side window and the left rear pane was shattered by the gunfire. The trunk of the car was also damaged.

Fortunately, the young lady in the previous tale was not injured due to the occurrence. However, records show that road rage was responsible for 218 killings in the United States over seven years—roughly 30 per year—and 12,610 injuries. Continue reading to learn more about this potentially hazardous driving condition.

WHAT EXACTLY IS ROAD RAGE?

“Road rage” and “aggressive driving” are often used interchangeably. Road rage, on the other hand, is a far more severe scenario, even though it typically includes aggressive driving practices. Here’s a breakdown of what each phrase truly means:

Aggressive driving is defined as the practice of tailgating, making hazardous lane changes, speeding, or running red lights. When cars are late and attempting to get through traffic, this behavior is common. While aggressive driving is responsible for up to 66 percent of all road deaths in the United States, this conduct is not directed at a specific person.

Road rage is defined as the display of aggressive driving behaviors, as well as other behaviors such as rude gestures, honking, brake-checking other drivers, getting out of the car to confront another driver, intentionally preventing another driver from changing lanes, or even attempting to run another car off the road or using a firearm. A news station in the Los Angeles area popularised “road rage” in response to a series of shootings on regional roadways. The desire to injure other drivers by assaulting them with the car or another weapon distinguishes road rage from aggressive driving.

According to a 2016 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research on road rage, roughly 80% of drivers experienced severe anger, hostility, or road rage during one year. The following

are some of the most prevalent road rage behaviors, as well as the number of drivers who have participated in them:

Tailgating on purpose, which 51 percent of the country’s drivers (about 104 million).

Yelling at another motorist, which was done by 47 percent of drivers (about 95 million) in the previous year.

Honking to express dissatisfaction or rage, which is done by 45 percent of drivers, or 91 million people.

Making furious gestures is a common road rage activity, with over 33 percent of the country’s drivers (around 67 million) engaging in it.

Attempting to prevent another car from changing lanes—24 percent of drivers (49 million) have done so in the last year.

Cutting off another car on purpose was done by around 12% of drivers, or 24 million, in the previous year.

Getting out of the car to confront another driver—4% of drivers, or 7.6 million people.

Intentionally bumping or ramming another car—around 5.7 million drivers, or 3% of the country’s driving population, have committed this infraction in the last year.

Certain demographic groupings are more likely to be involved in road rage accidents. Consider the following scenario:

Drivers in the Northeastern United States are more prone than drivers in other parts to honk or make disrespectful gestures.

Road rage is more common among young male drivers. Males are three times more likely than females to get out of their car and confront another motorist.

Yelling, disrespectful gestures, and tailgating are the most common kinds of road rage shown by women.

When challenged with aggressive driving behaviors, half of all drivers confess to retaliating with their own aggressive driving behaviors.

Drivers aged 25 to 39 are more prone to participate in road rage behaviors such as tailgating, honking, waving, cutting another motorist off, or leaving their car to confront another driver.

Drivers aged 19 to 24 are more likely to intentionally bump or smash another car or try to obstruct another motorist from changing lanes.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ROAD RAGE THAT MAKES IT SO DANGEROUS?

A firearm is thought to be involved in 37 percent of aggressive driving events. Two-thirds of all road deaths are caused by aggressive driving. Aggressive driving occurrences rise as a result of road rage. Here are a few more things to think about:

Aggressive drivers are less likely to fully control their cars, making it more difficult for them to stop or avoid colliding with others. Distractions include a driver’s wrath. Distracted driving is injureful on its own, but when combined with speeding, tailgating, or other aggressive driving habits, the results may be fatal.

In road rage situations, the retaliatory process may expand the scenario from one in which a single motorist is driving recklessly to one in which numerous drivers are driving dangerously and going to greater measures to punish the other driver. This may lead to roadside violence or even one motorist attempting to run another off the road. This puts the passengers of the cars involved in the collision and everyone else on the road at the moment at risk.

WHAT CAUSES RAGE ON THE ROAD?

In recent years, traffic has risen, and it is now one of the leading reasons for aggressive driving and road rage. However, a variety of factors may cause drivers to get enraged, including:

Other motorists’ behavior. Other drivers chatting on their mobile phones are one of the most common causes of frustration for drivers. Failure to utilize the turn signal, driving slowly in the fast lane, neglecting to check a blind spot before changing lanes, and forgetting to reduce high beams for incoming traffic are all examples of driving actions that may irritate people with whom you share the road. Retaliatory road rage is common. A cut-off motorist may retaliate by honking, making unpleasant gestures, or worse.

Stress. When drivers are stressed at work or home, they may have a lot of emotional baggage when they get behind the wheel. When you combine a stressed driver with other drivers’ irresponsible or dangerous conduct, you may have a road rage situation on your hands.

Road rage is also a common symptom of mental health issues like Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), which is defined as a condition in which a person has

repeated, sudden episodes of impulsive, aggressive, or violent behavior, or angry verbal outbursts that are out of proportion to the situation.

WHEN IS SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM ROAD RAGE?

With over 80% of drivers admitting to having experienced substantial wrath behind the wheel, you may be wondering whether you’ve lately been a victim of road rage. While there are no foolproof ways to test drivers for road rage, there are certain telltale signs:

You regularly employ aggressive driving strategies to get across an intersection before the light changes because you are in a hurry.

You feel compelled to correct or punish other drivers’ poor behaviors, such as tailgating a slow car on purpose, blowing your horn to express irritation, flashing your high lights, or screaming and waving.

You tend to take other people’s poor driving habits personally, believing that you’ve been purposely cut off or that the slow motorist is attempting to make you late for work.

You’re dealing with a lot of tension or anger in your daily life, have little control over those emotions, and are tired of it even before you go on the road.

You don’t typically see other drivers as human beings with their own lives and the potential to make errors.

You regularly drive on little sleep or after drinking, both of which might impair your self-control.

If you believe you have had or are in danger of experiencing road rage, you may take steps to prevent triggers by:

Look for anger management classes or self-help books to teach you effective coping techniques.

If you’re furious or stressed out, take some time to calm down before getting on the road.

Keeping in mind that a car may be just as lethal as a rifle. It’s neither a toy nor a tool you should use to argue with other drivers.

Allowing the additional time to get to your location to avoid being late due to traffic. If you know you’ll be late, try to accept it and remember that being late isn’t the end of the world.

While driving, listen to relaxing music or an audiobook or relax with breathing exercises.

Keeping images of your loved ones on your dashboard as a visual reminder of the significance of arriving safely at your destination.

Reminding yourself that other people’s actions aren’t a reflection of you, but rather a reflection of the stress the other motorist is experiencing in his or her own life. It’s easier to forgive the other driver’s blunders behind the wheel when you remember they’re human.

Don’t drive if you’ve had too much to drink or if you’re fatigued.

Reminding yourself of the detrimental effects of rage on your health. Giving in to your rage generates stress chemicals, which may put your heart and circulatory system under a lot of strain.

HOW TO STAY AWAY FROM BEING A VICTIM OF ROAD RAGE

While it is hard to prohibit other drivers’ behavior on the road, there are certain steps you may take to avoid being a victim of another driver’s road rage, such as:

Drive with consideration. Keep your phone out of your hands when driving. Make good use of your turn signals. Allow enough distance between you and the car ahead of you. Before changing lanes, always examine your blind zones.

Keep a close eye on your surroundings. Recognize that any motorist in your vicinity may be armed or on the verge of erupting into a fury.

If you’re a victim of someone else’s aggressive driving, don’t respond since it will just make the issue worse. Instead, keep in mind that the other driver is a human person who may make errors and a member of someone’s family. It is not your responsibility to lecture this motorist or make a point about their driving abilities. That is what law enforcement is for.

Do not be manipulated by another motorist into escalating the issue.

If a motorist is driving aggressively, maintain a safe space between yourself and their car. Change lanes or slow down.

Avoid establishing eye contact or making hand signals with the other motorist since this may aggravate their fury.

If you’re challenged by an angry motorist and can’t convince them to stop making you a target, contact the cops or 911. Make sure to provide the person on the other end of the call as much information as possible, such as the make and model of the aggressive driver’s car, his or her license number, and the exact location of the event.

Do not pull over and come to a complete stop. This allows the enraged motorist to close in on you, putting your life in jeopardy.

If the enraged driver is tailing you, don’t drive home or to work since this will provide the motorist with additional information about you. If you absolutely must stop, drive into a crowded parking lot and shout for assistance from anyone around.

Have you been hurt in an accident caused by another person’s aggressive driving or road rage? If this is the case, you are entitled to answers to your legal inquiries as well as a thorough explanation of your alternatives. Contact a skilled traffic accident attorney for a free consultation and case evaluation.