It is likely that, at least once in your life, you have encountered a driver under the influence of road rage. Even though driver’s education instructs that everybody should drive defensively, plenty of motorists never took this lesson to heart.
Encountering an enraged driver on the road can be frightening. Understanding what to do when you encounter road rage is vital. According to Geico Insurance, road rage often has specific signs and you should always try to de-escalate and escape.
What does road rage look like?
The quintessential sign of road rage is tailgating. In the event that somebody is viciously tailgating you for a long period of time, it is likely that you are dealing with an enraged driver. Another common sign of road rage is excessive honking. Honking once or twice at a red light is perfectly all right, but if a driver decides to tailgate somebody else while laying on the horn repeatedly, no doubt that the driver is exhibiting rage.
Some drivers will even escalate it further. For instance, there have been reports of drivers trying to get other motorists out of their vehicle for a physical fight. Some enraged drivers even purposely try to hit other people.
What can I do about road rage?
The best thing to do is try to get away from the enraged driver. For instance, you could try slowing down to allow the driver to pass or even turning off the road or exiting from the highway. You should never try to engage an enraged driver.
If you believe that an enraged driver is trying to follow you, pull off and drive to the nearest police station.