Do you have road rage? According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, chances are that you do.
What did the study say?
The study found that 78 percent of licensed drivers admit to having road rage. This number is alarming as road rage adds to the dangers and stressors of driving. The study also found that drivers, at least once, engaged in the following:
- Tailgated another driver: 51 percent
- Yelled at another driver: 47 percent
- Honked their horn (to express anger, not to avoid a collision): 45 percent
- Directed an angry or rude gesture at another driver: 33 percent
- Prevented, or tried to prevent, a driver from changing lanes: 24 percent
- Intentionally cut off another driver: 12 percent
- Exited the vehicle to confront another driver: Four percent
- Intentionally crashed into another vehicle: Three percent
Who is most likely to express road rage?
Both men and younger drivers (19-39) were the most likely groups to engage in road rage behaviors. Women are three times less likely to confront or purposefully hit another driver.
Do you have road rage?
We all get frustrated behind the wheel. And that is perfectly normal, says Jake Nelson, the director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research at AAA. But there is a point when it can become a problem.
There is a good chance that you have not confronted another driver or purposefully hit another car, but if you find yourself routinely doing any of the following, you might by guilty of road rage:
- Speeding (10 mph over the speed limit) on residential streets
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Tailgating
- Brake-checking the car behind you
- Flashing your headlights at the car in front of you
- Making rude gestures, honking, or yelling at other drivers
If you do these occasionally, just know there are ways around it. Check out these tips for avoiding road rage before your next trip.
Why is road rage so problematic?
According to the study, 90 percent of people think road rage is a very real threat to personal safety. Well, they are right. People prone to road rage are more likely to cause accidents as they are more likely to drive recklessly.
Reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, honking, or running red lights are likely to cause an accident or even bring the other driver to act aggressively.
In fact, speeding caused more than 500 fatalities in 2014 in Pennsylvania alone, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Get Legal Help After a Road Rage Accident
If you were injured in an accident caused by another driver’s road rage or negligence, you may be eligible to recover compensation. The car accident lawyers at Cordisco & Saile LLC can help you file a claim, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurers.
Contact Cordisco & Saile LLC today to schedule a consultation: 215-642-2335. Remember that the initial consultation is free and you do not pay us a thing unless and until we win your case.
