According to a recent survey conducted by AAA, nearly 80 percent of all U.S. drivers admit to having experienced “significant road rage” in the past year. Road rage can lead to speeding and reckless driving, which are two of the leading causes of car accidents in the U.S.
Excessive honking and yelling at other drivers are some of the common examples of road rage. There are also more extreme types of road rage, including ramming into other cars on purpose or exiting your vehicle to confront other drivers. According to the AAA survey, approximately eight million people engaged in these behaviors.
States in the Northeast, including Pennsylvania, lead the nation in aggressive behavior on the road. Drivers from this region of the country are a staggering 30 percent more likely to make angry gestures at other drivers.
How to Handle Road Rage
Many drivers respond to road rage with more aggressive behavior. Unfortunately, this only escalates the situation. The best way to handle road-rage induced behavior is to simply not respond. Do not take it personally and just assume that the driver is having a bad day.
You should also work hard not to offend other drivers. Generally, if you avoid situations where you force another driver to change speed, that will cut down on road rage incidents. If possible, do not do anything that forces a driver to brake or turn their steering wheel. AAA also advises drivers to avoid gesturing at or making eye contact with other drivers.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a road-rage car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the car accident attorneys at Schmidt Kramer today. Your consultation is free and you do not pay us a dime unless we are successful.
Call us at (717) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Review.