Texans lead busy, productive lives, but the daily hustle and bustle lead to crowded roadways, traffic delays, and driver frustration. It’s normal to become irritated by delays or by the behaviors of other drivers, but when frustration becomes anger and aggression, some drivers commit actions that put others at risk.
The National Safety Council (NSC) describes road rage as follows:
“Aggressive, sometimes violent, behavior by drivers usually stemming from stress related to driving or non-driving factors …”
Learning to promptly identify road rage behaviors and defuse the situation or move your vehicle out of danger is crucial to minimizing the risk of an accident.
Schedule a free consultation with a Laredo car accident attorney today — call (956) 489-1300.
Recognizing Signs of Another Driver’s Road Rage
As a driver, you may recognize signs of road rage when your tension and anger escalate in traffic. For instance, when you experience disproportionate anger because another driver cuts you off in traffic. Taking deep breaths to calm down or finding a safe location to pull off the road for a while can help you maintain control before your anger becomes dangerous road rage. However, it’s also crucial to recognize road rage in other drivers on the road. Drivers who exhibit the following behaviors may have road rage:
- Aggressively tailgating
- Cutting in front of your vehicle and brake checking (tapping the brakes repeatedly or slamming on their brakes immediately in front of your vehicle)
- Weaving back and forth across traffic lanes
- Excessive horn honking and/or flashing their lights
- Swerving back and forth
- Yelling or making angry gestures
- Actively chasing your vehicle
- Deliberately blocking you from passing or changing lanes
- Revving their engine
- Running through stop signs or red lights
- Throwing objects at you through their car window
- Intentionally following you
It’s imperative to avoid pulling over to confront a driver exhibiting road rage. An alarming 66% of car accident fatalities occur as a result of aggressive driving, and 37% of road rage incidents involve firearms.
What to Do When Another Driver’s Road Rage Puts You In Danger
When you recognize that another driver’s road rage is endangering you in traffic, it’s crucial to put distance between your vehicle and theirs, whether you are the target of their rage or in a tight traffic situation near an aggressive drive and the target of their rage. When a driver exhibits signs of road rage, take the following actions:
- First, stay calm and do not engage with the angry driver
- Either avoid eye contact completely, or if you make eye contact, mouth the words “I’m sorry,” even if you didn’t commit a traffic infraction or do anything wrong
- Let them pass and reduce your speed to allow them to get far ahead of you
- Take the next exit or find a safe location to pull into, such as a convenience store or gas station; however, if the irate driver follows you, do not stop your car
- Call 911 to report that you are in danger if you can’t defuse the situation, and the other driver’s dangerous behaviors continue
- Contact a personal injury attorney in Laredo to discuss next steps
If a driver with road rage is following your car and you cannot remove yourself from the situation, never drive home, as this lets a potentially dangerous individual know where you live. Instead, call the police and describe the vehicle, your location, and the direction you and they are traveling. Then, carefully follow the officer’s instructions.
How Can Wawi Tijerina Law Help?
If you or a close family member suffered injuries in an accident caused by a dangerous driver with road rage, you have the right to full compensation for your losses, including property damage costs, medical expenses, and compensation for pain and suffering.
Contact Wawi Tijerina Law to learn how an experienced car accident attorney can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.