by Almost all of us have experienced or witnessed road rage at some point in our lives on the road.
Even the safest of roads are potential danger zones, with people trying to get ahead, all the while watching out for what is behind, in front, to the left, and to the right. Lane changes and merging are hot spots for conflict, as two or more cars try to assert their desired position in the everchanging convergence of vehicles. Whether you’re in a rush or taking your sweet time, driving is about getting from here to there. So when a car appears to abruptly change into your lane or seems to be moving too fast or too slow, it can feel as though your blood has come to a boil in an instant.
Contributing Factors To Angry or Dangerous Driving
Sitting stuck in traffic offers almost no one any pleasure at all. Frustration and aggression tend to rise in stressful, crowded situations. Young men who consume drugs or alcohol are statistically more likely to express rage on the road. Pre-existing negative emotions may emerge during a flash of road rage as a cathartic release of fury. Road ragers may have more anger-prone personality types directly or indirectly related to suboptimal personal or professional circumstances.
Those who are prone to road rage tend to harbor hostility and contempt towards others on the road, believing that other drivers are unreasonably incompetent or antagonistic in their driving techniques. Road-raging drivers also tend to make ill-advised, high-risk decisions in regard to obeying the speed limits, traffic lights, stops, and signs. They may also make haphazard lane switches or turns.
There are hundreds of millions of licensed drivers across the United States, varying in experience and competence. Unfortunately, road rage is a significant contributor to driving incidents.
In an analysis of 10,037 police reports and newspaper stories about traffic accidents that led to violence, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found “road rage” contributed to 218 deaths and 12,610 injuries between 1990 and 1996. Worse, AAA found that road rage incidents increased nearly 7% each year within that period.
— American Psychological Association
Preventing And De-escalating Road Rage
While road rage is a valid emotional experience, it can be severely harmful to yourself and others on the road when perpetuated. Intentionally escalating road rage to an altercation is advised against, as this may result in injuries and legal consequences. A highway motor vehicle incident involving drivers and passengers in San Diego exploded into a knife attack, injuring the victim with stabbing wounds. If you are a victim of a road rage incident, consult with a personal injury attorney instead of inflicting retribution.
Even for licensed drivers who have undergone regulated training and testing, nothing truly prepares anyone for day-to-day road and traffic conditions. However, there are several ways to practice mindfulness to train your mind to remain calm during conflict. Instead of assuming the bad intentions of other drivers, consider that they may be in a rush due to an emergency, or they may have made an honest error in failing to check their surroundings and mirrors. Take a deep breath and consider that unless you have been harmed, you may not remember what angered you after one week or one month of the trigger.
If you are seeking an accident attorney, we recommend giving Villasenor Law Offices a call today.
Villasenor Law Offices
12396 World Trade Dr Suite 211, San Diego, CA 92128
