What Is Road Rage?
Road rage is often defined as hostile behavior exhibited by drivers or motorists when driving their vehicles. These behaviors include rude and verbal remarks, screaming, physical threats, or unsafe driving methods targeted toward other drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists in an attempt to intimidate them. The most prevalent forms of road rage, involved in more than half of all fatal collisions, include tailgating, screaming, or honking at another vehicle. Road rage can culminate in physical altercations, property destruction, assaults, and collisions that cause severe physical harm or even death.
How Can Road Rage Cause Car Accidents?
Road rage is one of the top causes of car accidents. It may happen through intentionally dangerous driving acts, such as braking suddenly in front of another car, pulling up right on another driver’s bumper, or even trying to tap the other driver’s bumper. Worse, as road rage incidents frequently occur on highways and freeways, the car accidents that result can be extremely serious and involve additional cars. According to research, Speeding — a form of aggressive driving — is responsible for 11,258 deaths on the roadways in 2020.
Difference Between Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
It is good to remember that there are significant differences between just aggressive driving and road rage. According to the NHTSA, aggressive driving is when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” On the other hand, road rage is classified as more violent and dangerous. This could mean there is a significant threat to property or a person when encountered with road rage. Aggressive driving may sometimes escalate to road rage. Road rage is very dangerous since violence can escalate quickly, and about 37 percent of road rage incidents involve firearms.
Legal Consequences of Road Rage
Although aggressive driving practices frequently lead to road rage occurrences, the law classifies aggressive driving as a misdemeanor traffic charge, whereas road rage acts are classified as felonies and are subject to harsh penalties, license suspension, insurance cancellation, and even jail time.
The most frequent acts of road rage that are punishable by law include:
- Forcing another driver off the road
- Sudden intentional braking in front of another vehicle
- Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver
- Tailgating or nudging another vehicle’s back bumper
- Cutting off another driver
A fatal encounter could start with a simple gesture or horn honk.
Insurance and Road Rage
Road rage incidents are often caused by stress, anger, or drugs and alcohol. A dangerous road rage confrontation may be avoided by courteous driving, abiding by traffic laws, avoiding distractions, and maintaining composure.
Accidents brought on by errors and negligence, as opposed to deliberate conduct, are typically covered by insurance. Someone’s insurance may not pay for the incident if they purposely hit your car out of road rage. If you’re the one making a move, the same goes for you. Additionally, if you hit someone after they caused the problem, you might not be covered.
If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Uninsured/Under-Insured Motorist coverage (UM/UIM) and you did not commit the act, your auto insurance may cover your claim. Getting this coverage at the highest amount you can afford is a good idea.
Looking to Protect Yourself with the Right Insurance? Choose Action Insurance
If confronted by an aggressive or angry driver, it’s important to stay calm, get away from the vehicle, get to a safe place, and call 911. Learn more about auto insurance you need to protect yourself from the dangers of the road. Contact the agents at Action Insurance. Our team of experienced professionals is ready to assist you.
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