How to Avoid Aggressive Drivers and Alleviate Road Rage

We’ve all experienced moments of anger and frustration when someone cuts us off in traffic or fails to signal a turn that would have allowed us to pull out onto a busy roadway, but most of us just shake our heads and continue on our business. Unfortunately, some drivers allow ordinary annoyance to become irrational outrage.

Road rage incidents are a growing problem in the United States leading to some startling recent statistics. For example, in 2023 92% of surveyed drivers witnessed an act of road rage. In the past seven years, 12,610 injuries occurred due to road rage and 218 murders, an increase of over 500% in the past decade.

What Is Road Rage?

Psychologists describe road rage as instances of dangerously aggressive driving, usually provoked by another driver’s irritating behavior. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) differentiates between aggressive driving and road rage. The NHTSA describes aggressive driving as operating a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers other people and property. The organization describes road rage as “assault with a motor vehicle” or with a dangerous weapon belonging to the driver of the vehicle to another driver or passengers of another vehicle.

Examples of road rage behaviors that could escalate into violence include:

• Verbal insults and yelling
• Making rude gestures
• Honking aggressively
• Flashing lights
• Threats of violence
• Speeding, tailgating, and weaving between lanes
• Making intimidating remarks
• Driving actions such as pulling in front of the other vehicle and slamming on the brakes

When road rage escalates into dangerously violent behaviors, the outraged driver could do any of the following:

• Intentionally colliding with the other vehicle
• Chasing or racing another vehicle in a threatening manner
• Forcing another vehicle off the road for a personal confrontation with the driver
• Using a deadly weapon against the driver of another vehicle

Road rage incidents in the U.S. also occur between car drivers and motorcyclists. Some road instances have also been reported between motorists and cyclists, which could lead to potentially fatal motorcycle accidents in Seattle.

Avoiding Aggressive Drivers and Diffusing Road Rage Situations

If you notice aggressive driving behaviors such as a vehicle speeding, weaving between lanes, or tailgating, it’s best to let the driver pass and keep yourself out of the situation. If you cut someone off in traffic or otherwise make a driving error that irritates an aggressive driver, you may be able to diffuse the situation by mouthing the words, “I’m sorry,” or otherwise exhibiting remorse.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, showing remorse is the best way to alleviate road rage in another driver, even if you feel you’ve done nothing wrong. Besides mouthing “I’m sorry,” showing remorse may include waving, putting up a hand in an “I didn’t see you” gesture, waving them past, and allowing plenty of room for them to pass you.

If the angry driver continues to act aggressively or threateningly, pull over and call 911 to report them. If you feel you are in immediate danger and fear that the angry driver might attack you if you pull over, you may call 911 while you are driving and attempting to remove yourself from the other driver’s vicinity. All states allow cell phone use while driving if it’s to report an emergency.

Never give in to the temptation to react angrily or lash out against an angry aggressive driver. Doing so may escalate the situation from aggressive driving to dangerous road rage. If a road raging driver causes an accident with you, call our car accident attorneys in Seattle today to settle your case.