Driving in Georgia traffic can cause the most patient driver to lose their temper at times. Getting trapped in rush hour traffic, stuck behind a slow driver or rushed to an important appointment or meeting is often overwhelming. If you have been involved in such a situation, you are not alone. AAA reported that more than 80% of American drivers admit that they too have felt the symptoms of road rage at some point within the last year.
It is not the road rage but the aggressive driving behaviors that come with it that lead to car accidents, deaths and injuries. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute claims that over a five-year period, 56% of car accident fatalities involved at least one aggressive driving behavior. These behaviors include the following:
- Failure to yield to traffic signs and signals
- Failure to use a turn signal or yield to other drivers’ right of way
- Speeding past other vehicles or racing
- Riding the bumper of other vehicles or tailgating
- Excessive horn honking, yelling expletives or using obscene hand gestures
- Cutting off other drivers and/or blocking them from changing lanes
Aggressive drivers change lanes erratically and may even leave their vehicle to approach another vehicle. In extreme cases, drivers with road rage may have weapons that they use to start physical altercations or hurt others.
In order to minimize your risk of becoming involved in a dangerous car accident, it is best to avoid engaging with aggressive drivers. Never yell back and avoid eye contact if possible. It is important to contact law enforcement, however, so officers can deal with the situation at hand.
