You’re headed home after a long day at work when the driver behind you leans on the horn and starts wildly gesturing. They’re waving a gun around. Shaken, you change lanes, let the driver pass, and breathe a sigh of relief when they’re out of sight.
This type of scenario is happening daily on America’s roadways. While road rage isn’t new, more drivers now carry guns. This makes aggressive drivers more dangerous than ever before. According to a report by Everytown USA, 2021 saw an average of 44 people per month shot, wounded or killed in road rage-related incidents.
Drivers do not need a gun to harm you either. Some use their vehicle as a weapon, braking hard in front of you or even driving into you on purpose.
Protecting yourself on the road
With road rage-related gun violence on the rise, it’s important that drivers learn how to protect themselves on the road. These tips can help:
- Do not respond to an aggressive driver with an angry look or gesture. This will only fuel their anger.
- Move out of the way as soon as you get a break in traffic. This allows the aggressive driver to pass by you and continue on their way.
- Pull over and call 911 to report the situation.
- Do not engage the driver no matter how much they berate you, do not step out of your vehicle or roll down your window.
- Drive to the nearest police station if you can’t get the driver to leave you alone.
If you are injured by an aggressive driver, you will need to seek assistance to recover the cost of damages and your injuries.