Driving on North Carolina roadways may be daunting at times. You may feel overwhelmed with emotions when stuck behind a slow driver, especially if you are late to an important meeting or appointment.
If you have experienced feelings of road rage at some point within the last year, you are certainly not alone. According to AAA, more than 80% of American drivers confess that they have felt road rage. It is the dangerous driving behaviors that accompany this rage that pose a danger to others on the road.
Identify the signs
If you are able to spot the signs of road rage, you could potentially prevent an accident from happening. These include the following:
- Failing to yield to other drivers’ right of way
- Racing other vehicles or speeding
- Cutting off other drivers or blocking them from changing lanes
- Excessive honking, yelling obscenities or using inappropriate hand gestures
- Failing to adhere to stop lights,
- Following too closely or tailgating
AAA also reported that nearly 8 million drivers showed elevated forms of road rage, which involved intentionally hitting other vehicles or physically confronting other drivers.
Contact the authorities
Whether an aggressive driver has targeted you specifically or you observed someone driving in an aggressive manner, you should know what to do. Avoid interacting with the angry driver. Try not to make eye contact, yell back or exchange hand gestures. Instead, contact law enforcement and inform them of the situation. You may be able to prevent an accident from occurring.
