Photo credit: Washington State Patrol
One Dead due to Aggressive Driving
The Washington State Patrol is looking for an unidentified red or maroon pick-up truck that was reportedly in a road rage interaction with a Jeep Liberty on Interstate 5, just north of State Route 520, before it crashed early Sunday morning.
The 20-year-old driver of the Jeep was heading north when she lost control of her vehicle and struck the left barrier wall. She was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries. Her 25-year-old passenger was also injured and transported to the hospital. There’s no word on their condition yet.
Anyone with information about this terrible accident is asked to call the WSP. http://q13fox.com/2017/12/10/road-rage-may-have-led-to-deadly-crash-on-i-5-sunday/
Road Rage: Aggressive Driving at it’s Worst
Most people’s livelihood and day starts and revolves around driving a vehicle from point A to point B. Life, literally, gets lived because of what happens on the road; so the open road becomes the ultimate melting pot for every situation, age, and experience. And just like other daily experiences, you never know what you are going to encounter there. Many assume that it is watched and monitored by eager patrol officers and radars. But in reality, there’s only so many law enforcement officers and patrols to go around at any given time. Society relies on civility and common sense behind the wheel as the biggest moderator when it comes to ensuring a safe commute.
Road Rage is a commonly known term that was coined in the 1990’s to describe dangerous on-the-road behaviors. Simply put, it is a very aggressive form of driving with a violent edge. Aggressive driving includes speeding, tailgating, driving slowly in the passing lane, failure to observe signs and regulations, and seeking confrontations with other drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage as when a driver “commits moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property; an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of one motor vehicle on the operator or passengers of another motor vehicle.” https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/AggDrivingEnf/pages/Introduction.html
Reasons for Road Rage
Photo credit: https://one.nhtsa.gov/
Almost half of the drivers at the center of a road rage incident don’t even realize they’ve done something to provoke an aggressive driver. Studies have shown that there are many contributing factors to these cut-throat situations. In the hope of finding what triggers such dangerous behavior, we also are looking for ways to prevent the terrible results that continue to escalate and increase in frequency on our country’s roads and highways.
Some of the known factors leading to road rage are traffic delays, running late, disregard for others and the law, and habitual or clinical behaviors. Having a sense of anonymity seems to embolden those who are willing to take their frustrations out on the road and other drivers.
Some Risky Facts to Be Aware of:
- 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving
- 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
- Over a 7 year period, 218 murders and 12,610 injuries were attributed to road rage
- Another scary statistic worth noting is: 2% of drivers admit to trying to run an aggressor off the road. http://www.safemotorist.com/articles/road_rage.aspx
Responding to Road Rage
It’s best to always be aware of the traffic around you, being courteous to other drivers even when their actions don’t necessarily warrant it, always driving cautiously. It may be nerve-wracking to drive in the shadow of an aggressive driver’s antics, but don’t give in to the frustration or respond in kind! Think twice before engaging in unsafe and dangerous interactions with other motorists. Getting home safe is more important than teaching some random driver “a lesson.”
The most important thing to remember when you’re faced with a road rage situation is DO NOT ENGAGE with the other driver! Leave plenty of space between you, move to the right lane, or even opt for a different traffic pattern then planned. Giving into inciting behavior is not only dangerous, but could turn deadly. Nobody should ever be a hostage on the road. If able, call 911 or have a passenger do it for you.
Here to Help
If you or a loved one have been hurt or injured in a motor vehicle crash caused by an aggressive driver, call Fielding Law Group today for a free appointment and review of your case. Consulting with a personal injury attorney is one of the best ways to determine your legal rights after an accident. Our experienced auto accident attorneys and legal team at Fielding Law Group will fight and get the compensation you are entitled to for injuries caused by an at-fault driver. Remember–Don’t let an accident wreck YOU!
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