Road rage becomes more common every year. It is the detrimental act of driving aggressively in a way that endangers yourself and those around you. Frustration while driving is to be expected, especially when dealing with traffic, but you have to remain calm and drive safely no matter the environment around you. Road rage can result in extensive property damage, injury, and death. If you need legal advice or representation in a case related to road rage, reach out to a New Jersey auto accident lawyer today.
What Are the Causes of Road Rage?
Road rage can come about for a variety of reasons. Some people may experience it because of:
- Intoxication
- Mental disorders
- Traffic delays
- Running late
Road rage is typically experienced because of an inconvenience. Aggressive driving can be contagious as well. If one person is running late and frustrated with traffic they may begin driving aggressively, weaving in and out of lanes or cutting people off. The person who got cut off may then begin to drive aggressively to spite the other driver by flashing their high beams or tailgating them. Some examples of road rage behavior include:
- Excessive speeding
- Illegally driving on the shoulder or side of the road
- Illegal passing or turning
- Tailgating
- Brake checking
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Changing lanes without a blinker
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Excessive honking
- Flashing high beams
- Inappropriate gestures or yelling
Does Road Rage Cause a Lot of Car Accidents?
Road rage is fast becoming one of the leading causes of car accidents. One of the most common forms of aggressive driving is speeding which resulted in nearly 12,000 deaths in 2020, studies show. Aggressive driving causes a significant amount of car accidents and is the culprit of 66% of traffic-related fatalities.
How Can I Avoid Being an Aggressive Driver?
If you frequently find yourself becoming enraged while driving, it can result in serious danger for those in your car and the cars around you. It is impossible to eliminate all annoyances on the road, but some actions can be taken to limit your agitation while driving.
Because being in a rush is a common cause of anger, work on your time management and give yourself ample time to get to your destination. Set your alarm a little bit earlier than normal so you don’t have to stress on the road.
Check traffic reports or use apps that track the flow of traffic to help you avoid delays and standstill traffic.
Play soothing music or a podcast. You are probably on edge while driving aggressively, so this can help you remember to relax your muscles, unclench your jaw, and sit back.
Try to avoid responsive driving. If someone else is being reckless, distance yourself from them by changing lanes or slowing down. You can even pull over or take a different route depending on the extent of their aggression, but do not respond by participating in road rage yourself.
For more information on the dangers of road rage and to obtain legal advice after an accident, contact an experienced attorney at Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC today.
