As anyone who has driven down the congested Las Vegas strip can attest to, busy traffic has a tendency to bring out the worst in drivers. Chances are, you might have already encountered an aggressive driver, or you may have been tempted to react out of frustration or anger yourself.
A recent study by AAA revealed that 80 percent of drivers who were surveyed said they had driven aggressively at least once during the past year. Authorities report that 56 percent of all accidents involving a fatality are attributed to some form of aggression, according to NBC News. This figure does not take into account the numbers of injury accidents involving aggression or road rage, meaning that you may have a significant chance of being in an accident with an aggressive driver at some point during your lifetime.
What is the difference between aggressive driving and road rage? Aggression can include speeding, swerving between lanes, tailgating and using obscene gestures. If you encounter someone with road rage, however, the driver is attempting to cause you deliberate harm by using his or her vehicle as a weapon or attempting to get you out of your car to start a fight. A road rager can also use objects or weapons in his or her possession to harm you.
Law enforcement authorities caution that if you are pursued by an angry driver, you should not pull over or try to get home. Instead, drive to a police station or a populated shopping center. Be sure that the parking lot is brightly lit if it is at night. Also, try to avoid creating a dangerous situation yourself by remaining calm and rational in traffic and not reacting to another driver with anger or impatience.
