Driving can be stressful. There’s nothing worse than sitting in traffic that’s crawling an inch at a time for miles. When you finally see the cause, do you ever wonder “How did that happen?”

Many probably had the same reaction today, when their already busy commute came to a screeching standstill in Tacoma, because of a 2-car collision caused by racing and road rage.

You’ve seen it before…cars, weaving in and around other cars going with the flow of traffic, who, inadvertently, would appear to be holding up a mad dash to some imaginary finish line.

“Inconsiderate driving, bad traffic and the daily stresses of life can transform minor frustrations into dangerous road rage,” said Jurek Grabowski, Director of Research for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly.

Racing Leads to a Serious Crash on I-5

Photo courtesy of WSP

A road-rage altercation between two racing cars on Interstate 5 in Tacoma, Thursday afternoon, got incredibly dangerous and out of control!

The 68-year-old driver of a Mazda Miata and an unidentified red car were speeding through the busy northbound traffic lanes when things got tense between the racers. The affair began when hand gestures were exchanged between drivers. It did not, however, end there.

Unfortunately, an innocent traveler was sucked into the simmering chaos when the Miata took to the shoulder to go around traffic. A WSP spokeswoman said: “The Miata come up to try and pass the Kia Soul on the shoulder, lost control, struck the Kia, and both vehicles rolled over.”

A third vehicle, a red passenger car, may have been looking at the collision when it hit a concrete jersey barrier on the left side of the freeway. That vehicle then fled the scene, and the WSP believe it may have extensive front-end or side damage.

Emergency responders immediately took the elderly Mazda driver to Tacoma General with life-threatening injuries.  They also took the 75-year-old unassuming Kia driver who suffered minor injuries to the hospital.

A felony investigation is underway for the car that fled the scene.

http://q13fox.com/2017/09/28/drivers-racing-on-i-5-in-tacoma-cause-crash-leaving-1-with-serious-injuries-other-driver-flees/

Moral of the Story:

This crash was totally preventable.

Road Rage Statistics

We’ve all experienced it before, or even been apart of it. It’s been called many things, but Road Rage is a term that was coined in the 80’s, to identify and label aggressive driving behaviors.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/428043/road-rage-behavior-among-drivers-us/

The following statistics compiled from the NHTSA and the Auto Vantage auto club show that aggressive driving and road rage are causing serious problems on our roads.

  • *Aggressive driving causes 66% of traffic fatalities.
    *37% of aggressive driving incidents involve a firearm.
    *Males under the age of 19 are the most likely to exhibit road rage.
    *Half of drivers who are on the receiving end of an aggressive behavior, such as horn honking, a rude gesture, or tailgating admit to responding with aggressive behavior themselves.
  • Studies attributed 218 murders and 12,610 injuries over a seven-year period.

One more scary statistic worth noting:
2% of drivers admit to trying to run an aggressor off the road!

http://www.safemotorist.com/articles/road_rage.aspx

Aggressive driving, in various forms, account for more than half of all fatal crashes. The most common driving behaviors that qualify as “aggressive,” include: racing, tailgating, failure to observe signs and regulations, driving slowly in the passing lane, and seeking confrontations with other drivers. Speeding is the most prevalent form of aggressive driving. The AAA Foundation studies show that speeding is a factor in 1/3 of all fatal crashes.  https://www.aaafoundation.org/aggressive-driving

How to Handle Road Rage

Handling frustration or reacting to the annoyances of other drivers takes skill! Remember that speed and weight can quickly turn your vehicle into a weapon. A single aggressive act behind the wheel can quickly escalate and ripple through to other drivers on the road. Your retaliation is not safe for anyone on the road.

Think twice before honking or giving your fellow travelers the bird, because you don’t know what is going on inside their vehicle or how volatile they are.  It’s more important to get home safely than to “teach someone a lesson.”

On the road, always back away from any hazardous speedsters. Do NOT make eye contact or engage in unsafe or aggressive behaviors in any way. Driving is not a game of who wins and who loses. Be courteous and keep the rules of the road so going for a drive never jeopardizes your safety!

If you or someone you love has been hurt or injured in a road rage accident, don’t hesitate to contact Fielding Law Group today for help.

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