Road rage has become one of the most common talked about elements of driving – whether it’s everyday conversations, TV shows, and movies. In fact, The American Automobile Association reports that almost 80 percent of drivers experience anger and aggression when on the road. But do you know what road rage really is and how to deal with a road rage situation? Read on to find out!
What Is Road Rage?
There’s a difference between aggressive driving and road rage in the state of Florida. Aggressive driving is a traffic violation, and it refers to driving that can endanger others. This includes tailgating, blocking other drivers from changing lanes, purposefully cutting off someone, and even making angry gestures.
Road rage, on the other hand, can be charged as a criminal offense, and it refers to assault with a vehicle or other weapons on other drivers or passengers. Knowing how to prevent, handle, and solve road rage can help you avoid altercations and crashes.
What to Do When You Experience Road Rage
Road rage can, and often does, lead to car accidents. Car accident injuries can vary from back pain and whiplash to more serious, long term injuries such as broken bones and spinal cord injuries. Let’s face it, no one wants to deal with car accident reports, insurance companies, and personal injury compensation claims, so if you’re prone to road rage, you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid it.
Listening to calming music may help, as well as making your car as comfortable and relaxing as possible. However, you’ll first want to make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re headed because running late will definitely make you prone to road rage. If you do start feeling aggressive try and remember what is actually important in life. Don’t let yourself get upset over a situation or someone you’ll likely never cross paths with again.
What to Do When You Encounter Road Rage
Even if you stay calm on the roadway, that’s no guarantee you will never encounter road rage. The good news is that there are things you can do to diffuse the situation and avoid a potential car crash.
To begin with, make sure you’re driving defensively. Being on the offense might offend other drivers, so try not to make other drivers change speed or direction. Prevention is always a safer tactic than trying to diffuse a situation.
Try not to take aggressive drivers personally. Give other drivers plenty of space and whenever possible, let them get through. Avoid eye contact and making offensive gestures, and if a driver offended you, don’t follow them.
In Case of an Accident, Contact a Tampa Personal Injury Attorney
If you do end up involved in an accident with an aggressive driver, get medical help first and call law enforcement. Don’t try and negotiate with other drivers. Instead, contact a Tampa personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. They can help you with all the paperwork, assess your chances of getting the compensation you deserve and guide you throughout the personal Injury claim settlement process.