Many people in New Hampshire are concerned about the dangerous effects of road rage. Aggressive, angry drivers can pose a serious threat to others on the road, even if another person’s careless or reckless behavior originally provoked their outrage. Some cases have drawn attention to road rage, including a woman who accidentally shot her husband when attempting to shoot another vehicle and a family that suffered injuries after a driver shot their van, igniting fireworks inside. There has been a consistent increase in road rage incidents over the years.
In the last decade, deadly motor vehicle accidents linked to road rage or other deliberate acts of aggression rose by 500% according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There were 80 such crashes in 2006 and 467 in 2015. Incidents of drivers brandishing guns also rose. There were 247 incidents of drivers firing a gun or pointing it at another driver in 2014 and 620 such incidents in 2016. In the first half of 2017, there were 325 gun violence incidents, pointing toward an even higher rate.
Drivers often admit to aggression behind the wheel. In a survey conducted by the American Automobile Association’s Foundation for Traffic Safety, 80% admitted to expressing anger, aggression or even road rage behind the wheel. Some incidents were more serious than others. While 45% said they honked to show their anger and 47% yelled at other drivers, 4% left their cars to confront another vehicle. Over half admitted to deliberately tailgating another driver, a decision that could have catastrophic consequences.
Aggressive driving can make the roads a more dangerous place for everyone else traveling on them. People who have been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligent or aggressive driving may consult with a personal injury lawyer about their options to pursue compensation for their damages.
