What to Do if You Encounter Dangerous Road Rage
Road rage incidents are unfortunately not uncommon occurrences on today's roads. From aggressive tailgating to violent outbursts, encountering dangerous road rage can be a frightening experience.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that in 10,000 road rage incidents committed over seven years, there were 218 murders and another 12,610 injury cases. With the serious outcomes that road rage can bring, it’s crucial to know how to handle such situations to keep yourself and others around you safe.
Understanding Road Rage
Road rage refers to an individual driving a vehicle aggressively or violently in a way that can endanger the safety or property of another driver, motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian. If you have a license, you’ve more than likely experienced this at least once in your life.
The Illinois State Police stated that road rage can include, but is not limited to, excessive speeding, abrupt lane changes, cutting off another vehicle, slamming on brakes in front of a tailgater, forcing a driver off the road, throwing objects, and gestures of anger or frustration. Common triggers of road rage can include traffic congestion, reckless driving, being cut off, and perceived disrespect from other drivers.
To React or Not to React to Aggressive Behavior
An aggressive driver is a dangerous driver. Not only can they hurt someone with their car, but they may be carrying a weapon. According to a report by Everytown, more than 550 people were shot in road rage incidents in the U.S. in 2022. The most road rage shootings in 2022, happened in New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. They make up 8% of the population but account for 20% of road rage shooting victims.
An article in USA Today revealed stories of several families that lost a loved one to a road rage incident with a gun. Most of the time, the calm driver would try to engage with the road-raging driver in some form before the fatality happened. It is important that if you encounter road rage, do not engage. Responding can escalate the situation further and put oneself and others at risk. Focus on staying calm and composed and disengaging with the situation.
How to Disengage With Road Rage
A car accident attorney in Albuquerque relayed that the best thing you can do in a road rage encounter is to remove yourself from the situation. Instead, back off and give the other driver space on the road. If you are in the left lane, move over and let them pass. If they have passed you and begin to drive recklessly and purposefully slow down in front of you, try to switch lanes or change your route.
What To Do If the Road Rage Escalates
Unfortunately, sometimes it becomes clear that a road-raging driver has no intention of stopping any time soon and may even be harassing you by repeatedly getting in front of you only to slam their brakes or to violently switch lanes every time you do, or even blocking your exit when you try to get off the highway or turn down another street. They do not care if they come to a complete stop in rush hour. Their only goal is to cause harm to you.
Go to a Police Station or Call 911
If you are near a police station, switch your route and drive straight to one. If you aren’t near one or you have no idea where you’re going because you’re just passing through the area, call 911. You are in a dangerous situation and this warrants a call.
Take Note of Context Clues
If you’re on the freeway, take note of what highway you’re on and which direction you're bound, whether it’s North, East, South, or West. Look for mile markers as well as exit numbers or exit names that you are passing. If you’re in a city or town, pay attention to the road names at each intersection and any specific markers such as fast food restaurants or home goods stores. All of these details will help the operator dispatch the nearest officer to your location.
Additionally, take note of the make, model, and color of the car. If you can get close enough, take a photo or read off the license plate of the road rager to the 911 operator.
Save Evidence
If a police officer shows up and pulls over the road rager, or you can finally get away and stop, take a breath fist. This scenario will leave anyone shaken up. If you have a dashboard camera, ensure to save all video footage immediately. If it is a Bluetooth camera, download the video straight to your phone so you can show the cops at the scene or when you make a report. Ensure you get a police report from the scene.
Post-Encounter Actions
After a road rage incident, you may just want to forget about it and not file a report. However, there’s a chance that if someone has done this once, they will do it again. It's crucial to take appropriate actions to address the situation and prevent future encounters.
File a Police Report
If you haven’t yet, file a police report. Recording evidence, such as photos or videos, can strengthen your case if legal action is required. Reporting aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities ensures accountability and helps prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Make a Driver Reexamination Request with the DMV
In most states, an individual can write a request for a road-raging driver’s license to be evaluated. In California, for example, you can submit a DS 699 form for the DMV to reevaluate a driver’s ability to drive safely. The form includes a checkbox for ‘acts violent or aggressive when driving’.
Under California Vehicle Code 13210 CVC, if the DMV completes its investigation and finds the driver guilty of road rage, they can have the license suspended for 6 months for the first offense and one year for the second or following offense. The court may also require the driver to complete an anger management or “road rage” course. If someone is caught driving on a suspended license, they can face varying penalties including heavy fines, jail time, increased suspension time, and more.
Staying Safe on the Roads
Encountering dangerous road rage can be a daunting experience, but with the right knowledge and strategies, you can navigate such situations safely and effectively. Stay vigilant, stay safe, and drive responsibly.
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