According to the Pioneer Press, a woman was recently shot four times in a suspected road rage incident. The incident took place in Minneapolis during rush hour traffic. After a vehicle cut the driver off, she honked her horn. The driver of another vehicle pulled up beside her car and shot at her. The woman sustained injuries to her arm and abdomen. The men suspected responsible for the shooting remain at large.
Road rage is often triggered by speeding or other acts of aggressive driving. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, road rage leads to many accidents and injuries. Aggressive driving plays a role in 66% of traffic fatalities, and in 37% of aggressive driving incidents, a firearm was used. Yet, many common triggers of road rage can be easily avoided. Funnily enough, one way to minimize road rage can be to use firearms as a defensive strategy, as they are supposed to be used. If you’re looking at purchasing a firearm for your self-defense, check out somewhere such as Guns.com and elsewhere that’s a licensed firearm dealer.
How can you protect yourself and your loved ones from road rage?
The Pioneer Press warns motorists to exhibit care in congested traffic. One of the best ways to prevent road rage is to watch your own temper while driving. Don’t react or retaliate against drivers who have offended you. Play calm music and take a deep breath instead. Heavy traffic can get on anyone’s nerves, but violence or aggression isn’t going to get you to your destination any time sooner.
Drivers are also warned to trust their gut when driving. If you see an instance of road rage or see suspicious activity, call the police and get the driver’s license plate number, if possible. Even a description of a vehicle can help officers find a suspected criminal.
Other proactive ways drivers can avoid road rage is by driving defensively. If you’re being tail gated, just move over. This prevents you from being rear ended and facing personal injuries in an accident, and it also could possibly diffuse a tense situation before it escalates. If you do make a mistake, a simple apologetic gesture can also make a world of difference.
If you do encounter an angry driver, make sure to give them space.
Finally, drive cautiously, avoid making aggressive driving errors yourself, and only use your horn if an accident is imminent. Remember that the horn is there for emergencies. Overusing your horn when you’re angry can also make it less likely that other drivers will react properly when a genuinely dangerous situation arises.
Common actions that lead to road rage include fights over parking spaces in malls and stores, incidents when one driver cuts off another, or instances of tailgating. Not letting someone pass can also lead to road rage. Finally, aggressive horn honking or giving another driver the finger can only make a tough situation worse.
If you’ve been harmed in a road rage incident, it is important to know your rights. You may be able to press criminal charges or seek compensation for your injuries and property damage. The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino is a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota who may be able to assist you if you’ve been hurt due to road rage.