Road Rage: A Growing Problem

Almost everyone has experienced anger while on the road at some point in their lives. Whether cut off by another driver, forced to sit in traffic, or getting trapped behind a slow moving vehicle, this type of negligent driving can easily trigger frustration. Unfortunately, the anger of many drivers goes beyond mere irritation and can actually put others on the road at risk of injury. In fact, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 33 percent of all accidents attributed to driver error can be linked to behaviors that are consistent with road rage, such as illegal maneuvering. The cost of collisions caused by aggressive driving are high, as these crashes often result in serious injuries and significant vehicle damage, so if you were injured in an accident caused by an aggressive driver, it is important to speak with an experienced Florida car accident attorney who can help you seek compensation for your losses.

What is Road Rage?

The NHTSA defines road rage as the angry and often violent behaviors at the extreme end of the aggressive driving continuum. In many cases, drivers are able to express their road rage in a harmless way by yelling inside their cars, making rude gestures, or honking their horns. While this type of behavior might be annoying and rude, it does not place people in immediate danger. It is when road rage goes beyond the simple expression of anger and constitutes retaliation against another driver that this emotion becomes dangerous to others. This type of escalation often takes one of the following forms:

• Pulling in front of another motorist and then slamming on the brakes;
• Purposely cutting off another driver in traffic;
• Speeding;
• Tailgating;
• Pushing another driver out of a lane;
• Purposely running red lights or stop signs; and
• Deliberately coming into contact with another vehicle.

In severe cases, road rage can even escalate to the point that it moves beyond a vehicle and involves the use of firearms or other weapons.

Reports of Road Rage on the Rise

Unfortunately, road rage seems to be on the rise across the nation. In fact, the NHTSA reports that fatal car accidents caused by aggressive driving have increased by almost 500 percent over the last ten years. This trend was confirmed by the American Automobile Association’s Foundation for Traffic Safety, which revealed that almost 80 percent of polled drivers admitted that they had experienced serious aggression or road rage at least once in the past year. According to that survey, 51 percent of respondents admitted to tailgating on purpose, 24 percent have attempted to block another vehicle from changing lanes, and 12 percent admitted to cutting off another motorist on purpose. These statistics are alarming to anyone who spends any amount of time on the road, as this type of behavior significantly increases a person’s chances of being involved in a collision.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you were injured in an accident caused by aggressive driving, you may require the assistance of an experienced attorney to file a claim. Please call 954-566-9919 today to learn more about how one of the skilled and knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyers at Boone & Davis can help with your own case.

Resource:

cnn.com/2019/09/10/health/road-rage-survival-tips-wellness/index.html

https://www.booneanddavislaw.com/filing-a-car-accident-claim-after-your-sideswipe-collision/