The Growing Problem With Road Rage

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

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June 9, 2023

Best Colorado Springs Car Accident Law Firm

CAR ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY ROAD RAGE IN COLORADO

Almost everyone has been angry on the road at one time or another. Anything might cause unanticipated frustration: being cut off by another motorist, being forced to wait behind a sluggish car, or seeing another driver engage in questionable conduct around you.

However, for some individuals, rage transcends beyond annoyance and becomes a more significant worry when driving. Road rage is to blame for up to 33% of accidents, including driver error: excessive speeding, unlawfully cutting another car off, slamming on the brakes in front of another motorist, or even purposefully crashing into another driver.

Aggressive driving, which includes road rage, is responsible for up to 56 per cent of all car accidents each year. In 2007, furious drivers on the road led to more than 200 killings and 12,000 injuries during seven years.

UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF ROAD RAGE

Most of the time, drivers show road fury in very innocuous ways—or at the very least, in ways that are unlikely to result in an accident.

Yell inside their cars 45 per cent of the time 35% of people honk their horns furiously

Make obscene gestures 22%

Other drivers are usually unaffected by these indications of road rage. They provide a reasonably safe means for drivers to express their frustrations without endangering others. Unfortunately, road anger often escalates. An angry reaction from one enraged motorist might elicit an angry response from another. Then, in addition to expressing displeasure, road rage actions include hunting for retribution. On the road, this could mean:

swerving in front of another driver and slamming on the brakes cutting off another driver in traffic

speeding tailgating

refusing to share the lane or pushing another driver out of the lane running red lights or stop signs

ignoring pedestrians or other cars in crosswalks or on the road.

Worse, road rage may become so intense that it spills outside the car. Drivers may go out of their way to inflict injury on one another.

This violence has included using guns, dragging another driver out of the car to hit or stab him, and trying to run him over. Both the enraged motorist and the victim can suffer serious repercussions as a result of road rage.

HOW ROAD RAGE INCREASES THE RISK OF A CAR ACCIDENT

Only a tiny fraction of accidents triggered by road rage involve intentionally hitting another car. Raging drivers may cause accidents unintentionally in various instances.

ANGER IMPAIRS JUDGEMENT

Anger not only increases the likelihood that a motorist may act in ways they would not work under normal conditions, but it can also impair general judgement and lead to bad judgments, such as speeding through red lights rather than stopping.

ROAD RAGE MIGHT SLOW YOUR REACTION TIME

Angry people’s reactions may have been delayed

The immediate reaction is crucial in a car driving at a high rate of speed to prevent accidents. Many enraged drivers not only choose to speed, which necessitates quicker answers to prevent an accident, but they may also have slower response times as a result of their rage. Unfortunately, this significantly raises the total risk of an accident.

RAGE ON THE ROAD MAY LEAD TO INJURYFUL BEHAVIOR

If the front driver slams on the brakes or must stop unexpectedly, tailgating may hinder a motorist from stopping in time.

Anger may create erratic driving behavior, putting a motorist amid traffic in a hazardous junction, endangering not only the driver who provoked the road rage but also other cars in the vicinity.

Other drivers have no way of knowing what a motorist experiencing a road rage accident would do next. Consequently, such drivers may find it difficult to determine their actions on the road, increasing the risk of colliding with a raged driver.

KEEPING AWAY FROM ANGRY DRIVERS

In an ideal world, you would avoid irate drivers by strictly adhering to the regulations of the road. Unfortunately, many drivers make mistakes accidentally or as a result of a temporary break in concentration.

Other times, becoming the target of another driver’s fury may be as simple as driving in the wrong location at the wrong time. If you’re trapped behind the wheel with a motorist

experiencing road rage, use some of these methods to protect yourself and those in your car safe.

DON’T RETURN ANY GESTURES OR SIGNALS

From shaking your fist to flicking them off, don’t make any impolite or vulgar gestures towards the other motorist. These obscene gestures may exacerbate road rage and increase the likelihood that the other motorist will make a hasty judgement that leads to an accident.

Move out of the path if you don’t want to be bothered. If you see a motorist acting violently around you, do all you can to get out of the path. Allow them to pass you by changing lanes. Allow them to pass by pulling over to the side of the road if required. Consider altering your route, such as taking a different exit than you planned to get away from the aggressive car.

GET IN SOME DEFENSIVE DRIVING PRACTICE.

You never know what someone else has been up to. Without intending to, you might unintentionally cause road rage. You can avoid several typical road rage triggers and keep yourself safe by driving defensively.

MAINTAIN YOUR COMPOSURE

You may find it difficult to resist reacting after the wrath cycle has begun. To retaliate for the aggressiveness thrown at you, you can speed up your car or cut the other motorist off in traffic. However, by refusing to respond, you may prevent a little outburst from escalating into a more catastrophic crisis.

BE AWARE OF A MOTORIST WHO IS FOLLOWING YOU

Is there an angry motorist after you, getting too close or speeding up, attempting to cut you off, and then falling behind you? To prevent being attacked by an enraged driver, avoid travelling to a remote location or bringing the motorist directly to your house. If you’re afraid about how a motorist would treat you following a road rage accident, cancel your plans and go somewhere where you can get help if you need it.

DO NOT EXIT YOUR CAR

You exited the highway, drove up to a petrol station, and got out of your car, only to find that the angry motorist had followed you. If at all possible, stay in your car.

You don’t want to start a fight, and your car may provide some protection from the angry motorist.

CALL THE COPS IF NECESSARY

If you suspect an aggressive driver is putting you or others at risk, or if an aggressive motorist has followed you and threatened you, call the police. Before using your

mobile phone or utilizing speech recognition technology to contact 911, make sure you have both hands on the wheel and all of your concentration on the road to reduce the danger of an accident near an angry driver.

SELF-PREVENTION OF ROAD RAGE

Many drivers are aware of their penchant for road rage. You’re aware of the dangers it poses to other drivers and passengers in your car, and you want to do better. What can you do to make yourself feel less enraged on the road? Take a look at some of these ideas.

RESIST THE IMPULSE TO MAKE VULGAR HAND GESTURES OR SHOUT AT OTHER MOTORISTS

These acts rarely make you feel more relaxed. Instead, try taking a deep breath and attempting to relax. The risk for everyone around you is multiplied by two when two drivers lose control.

ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO ARRIVE AT YOUR LOCATION

When you’re running late, it may be difficult to maintain your composure on the road, particularly if other drivers seem to be causing delays. When you have plenty of time to get to your destination, on the other hand, keeping your calm and avoiding an accident may be easy.

Keep in mind that speeding and other aggressive driving habits will not help you get to your destination faster—in fact, a collision may prohibit you from getting there at all.

ACT AS THOUGH YOU’RE RIDING WITH YOUR CHILDREN OR TRUSTED PALS ALL THE TIME

If you know someone else may hear about your rage on the road, you may find it simpler to avoid it. You may find it simpler to avoid accidents if you get in the habit of acting as though everyone on the road is watching your every move.

FOCUS ON YOUR CAR RATHER THAN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING

Concentrate on getting to your destination. While you must keep an eye on other drivers on the road to ensure that you do not hit them or cause them difficulties, try not to stare at them directly. Having a feeling of distance might help you deal with mistakes in judgement more objectively.

RELAX BY LISTENING TO SOOTHING MUSIC OR AN AUDIOBOOK

Even if you’re trapped in traffic or have to deal with inattentive drivers, keeping your concentration on anything other than the road might help you retain your cool while things around you worsen. Remember that most individuals do not purposefully participate in aggressive or unsafe driving conduct.

You have no idea what another motorist is going through or what distractions may be causing issues in their cars. People often assess themselves based on their intentions, whereas others are judged based on their deeds. While you can’t know another driver’s intentions, you can reduce your chances of rage on the road by attempting to think positively.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH AN ANGRY DRIVER

Following a collision with a raging river, you must act responsibly. After an accident, follow some of these crucial steps:

WHEN TRANSFERRING YOUR CAR, ACCORDING TO LOCAL RULES

For example, on a congested highway, you may need to pull over to the side of the road if you can do so without endangering yourself, your passengers, or other motorists.

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, SUMMON MEDICAL AND POLICE ASSISTANCE TO THE SITUATION

When you dial 911, an ambulance and a police officer will arrive at the accident site. After that, the ambulance may take you and any other wounded victims to the hospital.

FIND WITNESSES AND GET THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION

Other cars that stop right after an accident to aid may supply crucial evidence that may help prove that the other motorist was the one who caused the accident due to road rage.

You may call them later if you need them to deliver testimony to the other driver’s insurance company or in a trial if you acquire their contact information. Remember that the sooner your attorney gets statements from those witnesses, the more accurate the testimony you’ll get.

GATHER PROOF

If you can do so without aggravating your injuries or putting yourself at risk, take pictures of the accident site. You should take pictures of the other driver’s car, your car, and any injuries.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE SAFE

Avoid communicating with the other motorist if he or she continues to be angry after the collision. If you feel uneasy obtaining insurance information or contact information from an angry motorist, wait until the authorities arrive on the scene.

A police officer may assist you in calming the situation and gathering pertinent information. Notify the authorities of your planned location and leave the accident area if you need to leave the scene to preserve your safety, particularly if the other motorist threatens you.

SPEAK WITH A LAWYER

Although road rage will not improve the amount of compensation you get after an accident, proof of road rage may aid in the prosecution of the other motorist. A lawyer can help you better understand the compensation you are entitled to as a result of your accident and assist you in pursuing that compensation, including gathering proof of the other driver’s road rage.

Road rage is a major problem that affects everyone on the road. You may boost your chances of keeping yourself and people in your car safe by avoiding furious drivers and avoiding road rage yourself.

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