Apparently road rage or aggressive driving is much more common than expected. Indeed, roughly 80 percent of drivers in the United States will engage in a road rage incident at least once a year, according to a study conducted by the Auto Club.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety also says the drivers most likely to engage in this type of behavior are men who are between 19 and 39 years old.
Meanwhile, if you are driving in the northeastern part of the country it’s pretty typical to honk, yell or tester at other drivers than anywhere else in the United States, the survey says.
“You may be letting off some steam when you shout at another driver, but it can and often does escalate into more dangerous behavior,” said James Johnson, a California personal injury attorney.
The study was based on interviews conducted with roughly 2,700 drivers. Roughly half of the people who were questioned for the study admitted to tailgating other drivers and half say they got angry and got angry and honked at other motorists while behind the wheel. About a third of the drivers interviewed for the study made nasty gestures towards others and about a fourth used their vehicle to intentionally block or prevent other motorists from changing lanes.
The fewest number of respondents admitted to getting out of their vehicle to confront another person or using their vehicle to ram or bump into another driver, 4 percent and 3 percent respectively.
The best way to deal with an aggressive driver? The Auto Club says avoid road rage is by not making eye contact with the angry driver, don’t respond to them if they try to provoke you and swallow your pride rather than start a fight in the first place.
“Inconsiderate driving, bad traffic and the daily stresses of life can transform minor frustrations into dangerous road rage,” said Jurek Grabowski, director of research for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly.”
If you were injured or have lost a loved one due to a road rage incident or negligent driver, Johnson Attorneys Group can help. Our personal injury and wrongful death law firm offers a free legal consultation at 800-235-6801.
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