Road rage incidents are on the rise as millions more head back to work and make their regular commute once again now that things are increasingly reopening.
Previous investigation has found that about 27% of drivers experience or engage in some road rage behavior and according to data compiled by 6abc it is estimated that there is one person being injured or killed every 16.5 hours on average this year as the problem of road rage continues.
Authorities have been out addressing the problem and are continually on the lookout for that road rage behavior as these cases have climbed recently.
A few seconds of anger could change many lives forever and we have seen a number of violent events unfold this year already because people have had disagreements on the road.
Some areas are seeing at least a 50% surge or more in road rage reports and road rage shootings. Other communities are seeing a 200% surge in reports over road rage.
In Colorado, Atlanta, and other regions, drivers are on high alert.
Some tips that have been suggested for keeping cool on the road include:
- choosing your timing wisely
- accounting for the recklessness of other drivers on the road
- don't take what someone does on the road personally
- consider your own safety precautions
Sometimes it might just be a passive comment like telling someone to slow down and that has been enough to prompt an attack. Depending on the situation and the individual you never know what might set them off and make matters worse.
It might be difficult at the time but letting it go when someone cuts you off etc, or trying to deescalate the situation with simple gestures like a wave if you've done something wrong, these actions could possibly help to save your life, if things were to escalate had you taken another route of getting angry.
"Let them think they won and go on about your day,” - T Leal, president of PPI Security and retired Chief of the Texas Rangers