Last May, six year old Aiden Leos was shot and killed during an incident of road rage as his mother was driving him to kindergarten. The result of an unsafe lane change was a six year old boy losing his life.
This incident was not the first time someone was shot as a result of road rage, which in general has been widespread across the United States. In Chicago last April, a 22 month old boy named Keydan Swann was shot and suffered significant injury due to road rage. The car Keydan was riding in was almost purposefully hit by an SUV. The driver of Keydan’s car tried to get away, but the SUV followed and gunshots were fired, hitting Kayden.
These are only two recent examples, but road rage occurs everyday and all around you. So, what is road rage? The Webster Dictionary defines it as, “a motorist’s uncontrolled anger that is “usually provoked by another motorist’s irritating act and is expressed in aggressive or violent behavior.”
There are many causes of road rage, including:
- Traffic delays
- Running late: Drivers can become inpatient when they are trying to get to work or an appointments
- Habitual behavior: some drivers drive aggressively daily
Road rage can present itself as:
- Tailgating
- Yelling
- Honking in anger
- Blocking a vehicle from changing lanes
- Getting out of a vehicle
- Cutting off
It is thought that more than half of drivers have experienced road rage at some point during their driving career. A large metal car feels like a place of security and those who exhibit road rage tend to not associate other vehicles with the real people with lives and families of their own. Psychologist Ava Cadell, PhD, mentions how those with road rage act without thinking of the consequences of their actions. In fact, the average road rager has raged at least 27 times.
What should you do if you are feeling angry while driving?
- Take a minute to calm down: Count to tend, take a driving break, breathe… give yourself the time to rid yourself the initial feelings of anger
- Do not rush: When driving, give yourself plenty of time to get to a place so you do not end up rushing and feeling anxious, resulting in feelings of frustration or rage
What if you are experiencing road rage from another driver?
- Keep your distance: Create space between you and the unsafe driver by either changing lanes, staying far behind the driver, or exiting the highway entirely if needed.
- Don’t Stop: Stopping near an aggressive driver could lead to in-person confrontation that creates space for violence.
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings: If a person seems to be following you, lock your doors and drive to the nearest police station.
As always, safety is of the utmost priority and it is better to err on the side of caution than to end up in a dangerous situation. You cannot control other drivers on the road, but you can control how you prepare and respond to an incident.
At Evans Brothers Consulting, we are in the business of preparation and providing the right tools to combat a situation that is out of a business’s control. We specialize in crisis management, risk assessment, active shooter training, event safety, trainings and compliance, and permitting.
Take the initiative today and contact info@evansbrothersconsulting.com or call 617-545-1500 to set up a short, no-cost, preliminary discussion.
No one knows Boston like the Evans Brothers!