Road rage: we hear the term all the time, but what is it? And why is it so common? The fact of the matter is that road rage can occur at any time, and unsuspecting motorists may fall prey to the vicious actions of others. In the event you become the target of a road rage incident, a local personal injury attorney may be able to help you in your quest for justice.
Mississippi Road Rage Incidents
In the not-so-distant past, episodes of road rage have had perilous results here in the state:
- When drivers stopped at a red light in Flowood, one man was shocked to see that another exited his own vehicle and was screaming at his window. Then a gun was produced, and shot into the air. Fortunately, no one was physically injured in during the episode;
- A Laurel driver was less fortunate: he was actually shot in a road rage occurrence in January 2018, and required hospitalization for his injuries;
- In the most serious type of road rage events, a motorcyclist was shot multiple times. The Pascagoula incident resulted in the death of the motorcyclist.
These events are frightening examples of just how bizarre motorists sometimes behave. But there are plenty of other forms of road rage that can be just as dangerous, and even deadly.
Defining Road Rage
All kinds of driving issues are encompassed under the umbrella of road rage. While many are symptoms of anger, other simply feed the rage of other motorists. Any reckless driving puts motorists at risk, and should be avoided at all costs. This includes:
- Driving above posted limits, or too fast for conditions;
- Failing to signal when changing lanes;
- Weaving through traffic;
- Tailgating, or passing too closely for safety;
- Refusing to allow other vehicles to change lanes or merge;
- Racing with other vehicles;
- Verbal attacks;
- Rude gestures;
- Excessive honking;
- Challenging other drivers to fight;
- Displaying weapons;
- Menacing actions of any kind.
Where Does Road Rage Come From?
These types of hostility are all to common on Mississippi roadways. Often drivers simply become frustrated with perceived stupidity by other drivers. But sometimes deeper psychological reasons motivate dangerous driving:
- The desire to control others;
- The need to correct and punish perceived wrong-doers;
- Low levels of emotional intelligence;
- Anger management issues;
- Domination issues;
- Narcissism.
Following a Road Rage Incident
These dangerous occurrences can result in the ticketing of offenders, arrests, the revocation of a driver’s license, and jail.
For victims, serious property damage, emotional scarring, and injuries are all possibilities. In the worst cases, fatalities are the horrific result. The problem is all too prevalent, and is more serious than many people realize:
- Firearms are involved in over 30 percent of road rage events;
- 50 percent of drivers respond to road rage incidents with similar road rage actions;
- Over a seven-year span, more than 200 murders occurred involving road rage;
- Thousands of preventable road rage incidents occur every single year.
If you or a loved one have suffered due to a road rage incident, the heavy hitters at the office of Derek L. Hall, PC are ready to go to bat for you. Contact us in Jackson for a free, confidential consultation.
Resources:
- msnewsnow.com/story/35906291/road-rage-escalates-to-gunfire-on-lakeland-dr
- wjtv.com/news/road-rage-incident-leads-to-shooting/933738068
- psychologytoday.com/blog/the-act-violence/201301/the-psychology-road-rage
- clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/01/27/police-say-road-rage-led-man-shoot-and-kill-motorcyclist/1072273001/
