What Can We Do to Avoid Road Rage Incidents?

Road rage and aggressive driving are paralyzing conditions on our roads. ABC News this morning reported a shameful story on road rage. Tammitha Williams was driving in Atlanta Georgia with her four year old son Korda on Tuesday when she didn't move fast enough when the traffic light turned green. A man in the car behind her blew his horn and she blew her horn in acknowledgement and started to drive. Never did Tammitha Williams believe that incident would involve her in a dangerous road rage incident. The man who blew his horn followed her driving erratically, pulling up alongside her then pulling back before he shot into her van with a gun before tearing off. The bullet struck her four year old son Korda strapped in his car seat in the back and entered his buttocks. Thankfully Korda isn't critically injured and will be fine physically after medical intervention. The male road rage perpetrator is being sought by the Atlantic police department.

You can read the full story about Tammitha Williams via the ABC News website link below.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/atlanta-georgia-boy-shot-road-rage-incident/story?id=13316647

What can we do to avoid road rage incidents? I had a personal experience with road rage with an aggressive driver two years ago. I went to make a right turn into what I thought was a driveway which unfortunately wasn't the correct driveway, so I thought I was clear and pulled back into the road. A car was behind me and blasted his horn. I rolled down the window and waved my hand in apology. The driver sped up, pulled alongside me and repeatedly tried to ram me off the road with his car, making me swerve and lose control of my car several times before he tore off down a side street. I was so upset I didn't have a chance to get his license plate number because my heart was in my throat, realizing I could've totally lost control of my car. This was all due to my driving error and an aggressive driver's road rage.

Before road rage incidents increased, I remember the days when you used to be able to drive and smile or wave at the driver next to you if you caught each other's eye. Today you don't dare glance at the driver next to you because you never know the temperament of the driver next to you. We used to be friendlier drivers, allowing cars to slip into the road in front of you, now drivers speed up without letting you enter the road or pass in front of them. Road rage incidents involve tailgating other car's bumpers because they're only driving ten miles over the speed limit, blowing car horns the instant the light turns green, or weaving in and out of traffic. Aggressive drivers will taunt you, use their cars as weapons, run you off the road or even follow you home. Physical altercations and verbal confrontations occur daily with aggressive road rage drivers.

Road rage drivers are harried over their personal lives and jobs, frustrated at road work and construction sites, physically or emotionally exhausted, or in a rush to save a minute of time. Not to mention all the impaired drivers who carelessly think they own the roads. We forget to realize our vehicles are heavy deadly weapons and as drivers we should be responsible and calm every time we get behind the wheel. Don't be afraid to report aggressive drivers or incidents of observed road rage. You could save a life.

The police department and motor vehicle department advise if you're involved in an incident of aggressive driving or road rage, you should try to obtain the aggressive driver's license plate and vehicle description. Pull over safely if you can and call 911. Don't interact with the aggressive driver, either pull over safely or slow down and allow the driver to pass you. Never confront an aggressive driver, remain in your car and lock the doors. Try to go to a public area where you can obtain assistance if needed, and never allow an aggressive road rage driver to follow you to your neighborhood.

Take a deep breath before you climb into your car and always allow yourself enough time to drive safely to your destination. Don't allow yourself to become aggressive in response to another driver's road rage. A vehicle isn't a toy and the life you save may be your own. We should also educate our young drivers about the possibility of encountering road rage and aggressive drivers.

The AAA website link offers drivers information on how to deal with road rage incidents and aggressive drivers.

http://www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfm?button=agdrtext