Everyone gets upset while driving. Other drivers cut you off, drive too close, drive too slow or fast, swerve into you, etc. But how do you react when situations like this happen? Many people will partake in road rage. If another driver happens to upset you, your response should not be gesturing unpleasant things at them and screaming. So many people will use their horn as well, but try not to use it excessively because it can be aggravating to other drivers. Health Day says “studies show that at least 1,500 people are injured or killed in road rage incidents each year.” So while this is not an epidemic, this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Road rage is defined as "when a driver commits moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property; an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of one motor vehicle on the operator or passengers of another motor vehicle".
Many of you probably will not care until road rage affects you in some way, which is how I felt as well—that is until road rage damaged my car severely. Recently I was driving and trying to enter an entrance ramp to a highway where two lanes merged into one. I witnessed the car (Car 1) in front of mine and the car (Car 2) to the right of me begin fighting. This was after the car in front of me cut off the car to the right when the lanes were about to merge. After the extremely visible gesturing from both cars, one actually opening his car window to stick his hand out and gesture, I slowed down a few miles to increase space a little. With this specific entrance ramp, another entrance ramp merges into it before reaching the highway, which allows there to be two lanes again for a few feet. Car 2 took this opportunity to try and go around Car 1 using the new lane added but car 1 swerved halfway into the lane to cut him off. At this point my rate of speed should have decreased greatly to allow a lot of space in between myself and the other cars.
Thankfully, I was not injured but the entire situation could have been avoided if the other two drivers had not been fighting with each other and causing hazardous driving conditions for others. The driver of Car 2 and myself learned about how close we should or should not be driving to other cars and I specifically learned not to drive in any close proximity to visibly upset drivers.
For some people, they need legitimate reasons as to why they should not partake in road rage. It should be noted that partaking in road rage is considered a 3rd degree public defense. The accidents have increased by 7% since 1990 with reasons such as being cut off, not letting someone pass, and rude gesturing. As motorists, we should be driving safely, as though the drivers around us are people we care about. If that was your child, parent, or significant other that was driving the car you are about to go off at, would you think twice? If someone thought twice, would I still be able to have a working car?
http://www.ct.gov/dmv/LIB/dmv/20/29/aggdr.pdf
