Burnett & Williams

Road Rage Can Be Deadly

Road Rage Can Be Deadly

Road rage incidents have been on the rise, so remember to keep your cool behind the wheel to avoid an accident.

driver honking in traffic on the road
Photo Courtesy of Shutterstock/By admin_design

Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and all of the upheavals and difficulties it has caused in our lives, this past year has been a stressful one for all of us. That stress has been following some of us onto the road in the form of aggressive driving, resulting in an alarming uptick in reported road rage incidents.

Road rage can take a number of forms: yelling or rude gestures; tailgating; forcing another driver off of the road. In the worst cases, road rage can lead to serious injury or death, as in a recent incident in California that ended with the death of a young pregnant woman who was a passenger in the road rage aggressor’s truck, or a six-year-old boy who was killed when someone in another vehicle fired in anger at the car he was riding in. These drivers are allowing their stress and anger to get the best of them behind the wheel, with deadly consequences.

When you are on the road, always remember the importance of keeping your cool. Little things like allowing other cars to merge, or following the vehicle in front of you at a safe distance can make a big difference when it comes to avoiding conflict with other drivers. If another motorist is acting in an aggressive way toward you, do your best to avoid engaging with the angry driver. Avoid eye contact and don’t meet their anger with your own. If you feel threatened, drive to a safe public place like a fire station or hospital, and if needed call 911.

This year has been tough on all of us, so extend kindness and patience to other motorists wherever you can. Not just for your own safety and desire to avoid an accident, but for everyone else’s safety, too.