October 10, 2019
Road rage in Delaware and across the U.S. is more common than you may think. In fact, at least 80% of drivers across the country admit to having had feelings of road rage within the last year, according to AAA. While men are more likely to exhibit it than women, anyone is susceptible to becoming a victim of aggressive driving.
People who have road rage often engage in hazardous driving behaviors and put the lives of everyone else on the road in danger. In fact, 56% of deadly driving accidents are the result of at least one aggressive driving behavior.
Signs to look out for
As a way to limit your risk of becoming involved in an accident while on the road, you should always be on the lookout for dangerous driving behaviors like these:
- Racing other vehicles or speeding
- Constant horn honking, yelling expletives or using obscene hand gestures
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Excessive lane changing
- Blocking other vehicles from changing lanes or weaving in and out of traffic
- Ramming or bumping into other vehicles with malicious intent
In some cases, angry drivers may exit their vehicles in order to start a confrontation with another motorist. Drivers with road rage may have baseball bats, sticks, guns or other weapons they use to threaten others on the road.
What should you do
If you spot an enraged driver, it is critical that you avoid engaging. Do not exchange words, use hand gestures or aggravate the angry driver in any way. Not only could you worsen the situation, but you may be at risk of getting injured.
Instead, law enforcement officers suggest you alert police to the matter at hand and allow them to take care of the situation. By doing so, you may save your life or the life of another innocent driver.