Aggressive driving and road rage incidents continue to rise in the United States, surging by an estimated 400% in the last decade. It’s difficult to accurately assess the number of car accident deaths caused by road rage because law enforcement does not categorize accidents in this way. However, 3,095 people were shot during road rage encounters between 2014-2023, indicating that this is an escalating problem with a growing number of road rage-related car accidents.
What Is Road Rage?
Traffic experts describe road rage as angry, aggressive driving behaviors and threats of violence triggered by one driver’s rage over a perceived wrong by another driver—such as being cut off in traffic. A report by DashCam reveals that 79% of drivers in the United States experienced aggression and rage while behind the wheel during the study period. Examples of road rage include:
- Speeding
- Running through red lights and stop signs
- Aggressively tailgating
- Passing another car in the emergency lane, along the shoulder of the road, or on the median
- Repeated horn honking
- Yelling, cursing, or making rude gestures to another driver
- “Brake-checking” or intentionally hitting the brakes abruptly in front of another vehicle
- Weaving through traffic
- Honking the horn and blinking lights at another driver
- Stalking or intentionally following another vehicle to intimidate the driver or to seek a confrontation
- Intentionally sideswiping or ramming another vehicle
A driver with road rage drives erratically by speeding, weaving, and cutting off others in traffic, presenting a danger to themselves and others.
What Types of Accidents Are Caused By Road Rage?
Angry, aggressive drivers pose a threat to others on the road. Not only do some road rage incidents result in physical confrontations and acts of violence, but they also cause a significant number of traffic accidents including the following types of accidents:
- Rear-end collisions
- Roadway departures
- Sideswipes
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- T-bone collisions
- Ramming accidents
Drivers who cause an accident by driving aggressively or intentionally harassing another driver are liable for damages caused to Austin car crash victims.
Proving Liability In Road Rage Accidents
Like many states, Texas operates under a modified comparative negligence insurance system. This requires proving an at-fault party liable for an injury victim’s damages like property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. Proving liability requires showing compelling evidence of the following:
- That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to others on the road
- They breached this duty of care through negligent, reckless, and wrongful actions
- Their breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
- The injury victim experienced significant damages from the injuries
Under comparative negligence insurance laws, it’s not uncommon for both drivers in a two-car collision to share fault with a percentage of fault assigned to each driver; however, in road rage incidents the aggressive driver is often 100% at fault and liable for the victim’s damages as long as the other driver didn’t participate in the aggressive driving behaviors that led to the accident.
How to De-Escalate Road Rage Incidents Before an Accident
If you encounter an aggressive, angry driver on the roadway, it’s important to take preventative measures to de-escalate the situation and avoid an accident. Experts warn to avoid participating in negligent driving behaviors such as speeding up to chase the angry driver, horn-honking, or brake-checking. Instead, slow down to allow as much distance between your vehicle and theirs as possible. If you make eye contact, try mouthing the words, “I’m sorry,” even if you feel you committed no traffic infraction. It’s best to move over as much as safely possible to let an aggressive driver pass and then avoid following too closely.
If an aggressive driver exhibits road rage, lock your doors and roll up your windows. Call 911 if you are under immediate threat. Otherwise, note the make and model of the vehicle and the license plate number and report the aggressive driver to your local law enforcement department through a non-emergency number. If you are chased by a driver exhibiting road rage behaviors, drive to the nearest police department instead of driving home.