Most everyone has been in a situation before where they have gotten frustrated with another driver while on the road.AAA however, has done some recent research to identify just how prevalent is and the potential risks associated with it.
Road rage can cause major accidents if drivers are not careful, and it looks like the behavior is more common road rage today than ever before.
Most People Have Had Road Rage
According to their study, up to 80% of Americans have expressed significant aggression, road rage or anger behind the wheel at least once in the past year.
The survey also shows that 8 million individuals have demonstrated some of the most aggressive and extreme forms of road rage including getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver or slamming into another car.
The daily stresses of life or someone not paying attention or otherwise being an inconsiderate driver on the road can make a minor aggravation into a dangerous event of road rage.
Common Road Rage Events
Unfortunately, this research shows that far too many individuals are allowing the heat of the moment to get to them and to escalate the situation from bad to worse.
The study estimates that all of the following behaviors are common examples of road rage in the United States:
- Purposely cutting off another vehicle, with 12% of the population guilty of this.
- Making an angry gesture, with up to 33% of the population being guilty of this.
- Yelling at another driver, with up to 47% of the population guilty of this
- Honking to show anger and annoyance, with up to 45% of the population guilty of this
- Exiting the vehicle to confront another driver, which 4% of Americans have done
- Ramming into another vehicle purposely, which 3% of the population is guilty of doing
It turns out that people are worried about the surge in aggressive driving behavior; two out of every three drivers now believes that aggressive driving is a bigger problem now than it was three years ago but one of the most interesting outcomes from the study is that nine out of ten individuals believe that aggressive drivers pose a serious threat to the personal safety of others.
Who is Most Likely to Exhibit Road Rage?
The individuals most likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors on the road were younger drivers between the ages of 19 and 39 and males were more likely to engage in this behavior than females.
For example, male drivers had three times the likelihood of getting out of a vehicle and confronting another driver or running into another driver on purpose.
If you spot another driver who can’t seem to keep his or her cool, this is not the appropriate time to attempt to have a conversation with the individual or to escalate the situation by responding with examples of road rage yourself.
What Should I Do if I See an Aggressive Driver?
One of the best things you can do if you find yourself in the position of dealing with an angry driver on the New Jersey roads is not to respond at all.
Avoid making any gestures or eye contact with the other driver. You may need to contact emergency services if the other driver just won’t let it go.
If you feel like an aggressive driver is following you or threatening your personal safety, reaching out to the authorities is one of the most important things you can do.
Although everyone certainly has their stressful moments behind the wheel of a car, you should never take it to the level of endangering another person.
Being so angry that you’re focused on someone else’s performance behind the wheel of their car also means that you might be distracted from the roadway in front of you, putting you at greater risk of being involved in an accident.
Don’t Wait! Contact a New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer
Have you recently been injured as a result of a distracted or aggressive driver who took things too far?
If so, you may have grounds to file a personal injury negligence claim in the New Jersey courts against the responsible driver.
The only way to protect your rights is to consult with an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Learn more about how long a typical personal injury case might take: https://www.schibelllaw.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-resolve-a-personal-injury-case-in-nj/
