If you have felt stressed, anxious or angry while navigating the South Carolina roadways, you are certainly not alone. In fact, more than 80% of American motorists agree that they have felt angry while driving at least once during the past year, according to AAA.
When this anger transforms into aggressive driving behaviors, it endangers everyone on the road. Knowing how to spot the signs of road rage and keep yourself cool under pressure may help avoid a serious, potentially deadly car accident from occurring.
Identifying the signs of road rage
Aggressive driving can take many forms. The Insurance Information Institute reports the following hazardous behaviors:
- Failing to yield to pedestrians, traffic lights and other drivers’ right of way
- Cutting off other vehicles
- Excessively honking and yelling at other drivers
- Racing other vehicles, speeding or rapidly changing speeds
- Blocking other vehicles from changing lanes
- Tailgating or following too closely
Speeding is one of the most dangerous behaviors. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one-third of car accident fatalities involved speeding alone.
Aggressive driving may escalate into serious road rage. In some cases, enraged drivers may hit other cars or exit their cars and approach other vehicles with the intent of harming another driver.
Knowing what to do
Many people feel inclined to fight back when under attack from a road rager. However, law enforcement officers warn that this is the worst thing you can do. Instead, you should avoid all contact with the angry motorist and contact law enforcement. By alerting officers to the location of the incident, you can help keep the roads safer for everyone.
