Northwest Iowa — Imagine for a moment that you’re driving down the highway, and somebody pulls out in front of you, or cuts you off, or starts tailgating you. How do you react? Most all of us has been in a similar situation, and a new study from Triple-A suggests that the vast majority didn’t handle it well.
Mark Peterson is a Traffic Affairs Specialist with Triple-A, and he tells KIWA that he was surprised by the results of that survey.
Peterson gave us some examples of how road rage can begin.
He says far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly. And he warns that things can escalate quickly.
The survey revealed that nearly 2 in 3 drivers believe that aggressive driving is a bigger problem today than three years ago, while nine out of ten believe aggressive drivers are a serious threat to their personal safety. Peterson says a display of anger or frustration is not worth what can happen.
Triple-A offers these tips to help prevent road rage:
- Don’t Offend: Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes, or turn the steering wheel in response to something you have done.
- Be Tolerant and Forgiving: Don’t let emotions interfere by assuming the other driver intentionally did something to offend.
- Do Not Respond: Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle and contact 9-1-1 if needed.
