Rash of Road Rage Can Increase Car Insurance Rates

There seem to have been a series of severe cases of road rage recently. On Valentine’s Day, a female police officer in Dewitt, Iowa, who was off duty, got out of her car and threatened other drivers with a gun. After shooting a man in a Wal-Mart parking lot over a driving disagreement, a man in the Miami area turned himself in.

Why do these drivers get so upset? Driving can be stressful, but for some it can be deadly. In Stanton, California, one driver was stabbed by another angry driver. In the Detroit area, a man was shot and killed in a road rage related incident.

Many times the angered driver is already mentally unstable. A high-stress driving situation may only stimulate him into negative action. For others, lack of sleep, stress or anxiety may cause them to lash out at other drivers.

The Cost of Road Rage
Insurance companies warn drivers away from irrational behavior while driving. Even if you may not pull a gun on someone if you are the angry driver, you may cause an accident that damages cars, or worse, injures or kills people. Having even one road rage related accident on your driving record can cause your car insurance rates to skyrocket, experts say. The best way to avoid an accident is to stay calm at all times while driving.

Most states have severe penalties for road ragers. In California, aggressive driving is considered a criminal offense, and is punishable by up to 4 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Road ragers who cause accidents or even death, will be prosecuted for the damages they caused, and may even see life in prison for manslaughter.

Clearly, there is no benefit for road rage, and drivers should keep this in mind when on the road.

How to Take the Anxiety Out of Driving
According to Road and Travel Magazine, there are several ways you can stay safe while driving, whether you are the aggressive driver or another driver sharing the road.

To Avoid Being the Road Rager
• Stay calm and don’t rush. You won’t get there any faster.
• Remain focused on driving; it’s not a competition.
• Stay a safe distance behind other cars, at least 1 car length for every 10 miles per hour you’re driving.
• Don’t make obscene gestures.
• Apologize if you make a mistake while driving.
• Be a courteous driver. Don’t cut people off or forget your turn signal.
• If your blood is boiling, pull over and calm down.
• Take deep breaths.
• Listen to soothing music.

To Avoid Being a Victim
• If you see someone driving crazily, stay back.
• Avoid confrontation with the driver.
• Never pull over and get out of your car to talk to a road rager.
• Keep up with the flow of traffic.
• If you have a driver on your bumper, move to the right lane and let them pass.
• If you feel threatened, call 911.