You’re on your way to dinner with friends when the car behind you starts laying on the horn and flashing its lights. You move over to the right, and the driver flies by you, gesturing inappropriately in your direction.
Aggressive, angry drivers are everywhere. They may be stressed because they are running late or they had a bad day. Unfortunately, they take it out on the drivers around them by engaging in road rage. In fact, one in every three accidents is the result of road rage.
How to spot road rage
It isn’t difficult to spot road rage. Some of the ways in which it manifests include:
- Tailgating
- Yelling and swearing at other drivers
- Aggressively gesturing at other drivers
- Break-checking the car behind them
- Flashing lights and laying on the car horn
- Waving a gun or knife at another driver
- Sideswiping or intentionally trying to run you off the road
- Attempting to start a fight by getting you to step out of your vehicle
When you encounter an enraged driver, do not make eye contact with them, which may trigger them even more. Given that 30 murders per year occur due to angry drivers with guns, your best way out of a road rage situation is to ignore the driver and let them pass you by.
Try not to respond to the aggressive driver in any way. If the matter continues to escalate, pull over to the side of the road. Once stopped, call 9-1-1 and alert them to the situation. Try to snap a picture of the enraged driver’s license plate with your phone to give to the police.
If despite your best efforts, you are injured by an angry driver, you may be entitled to seek compensation for any damages and injuries that you sustain.
