Why is road rage dangerous?

Most drivers in Illinois have been the victim of road rage at least once. Someone might have shouted at you, honked their horn, cut you off, drove unnecessarily close to your vehicle or intentionally drove too slowly on the highway. This type of behavior isn’t just an inconvenience; engaging in road rage can be as dangerous as drunk driving or texting while driving.

What are the dangers of road rage?

Contrary to popular belief, road rage isn’t harmless. It’s actually one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents with one-third of all accidents involving road rage. One driver engaging in road rage is bad enough, but 50% of surveyed Americans have admitted to retaliating when they experience aggressive driving behaviors. If two people are fighting with each other on the highway, this can quickly lead to an accident.

Shockingly, road rage causes about 30 murders on U.S. highways each year. Research has shown that nearly 40% of road rage incidents involve firearms, and if somebody decides to use their firearm, it can have deadly consequences. Despite this threat, 2% of drivers in the survey admitted to deliberately getting back at other drivers by trying to run them off the road, causing an accident.

Aggressive driving also distracts you when you’re on the road. If you’re focused on yelling at another vehicle, you’re not going to be paying attention if the other vehicle suddenly stops in front of you. You could also drift out of your lane or end up driving off the highway.

What if you’re the victim of aggressive driving?

You may have been in an accident due to aggressive driving. You didn’t provoke the other driver, but they ran you off the road or slammed into your vehicle anyway. When this happens, an attorney may help you seek justice for the incident.