Why is this dude trying to get you
off the road?
Oh, no.
It looks like you're in front of
an aggressive driver.
This could end badly for you.
But don't worry, we're here to help.
The aggressive conduct ranges
from verbal insults and threats
to tailgating,
sideswiping,
ramming,
and even forcing another vehicle
off the road.
And in extreme situations,
you could face a direct threat to your life.
Between 2014 and 2016,
gun use, in road rage cases, doubled.
In the U.S.,
30 people are murdered every year
in road rage incidents.
Road rage can be motivated
by a specific event,
such as a slow driver
or a driver who changes lanes
without signalling.
And they can result in the perception
of lowered risk,
so drivers drive recklessly.
An Australian study
published in 2014
recruited 220 licensed drivers.
It found that when drivers believed
they were in greater control
of their situation
due to their superior driving skills,
they were more likely to drive in risky
and aggressive ways.
In March of 2017,
Erika Flores was with her boyfriend
at a drive-thru
in Long Beach, California.
A minor fender bender with the car
in front of them
turned deadly
when the driver ambushed them
in an alley near the restaurant.
Erika was shot five times
in her chest and leg.
She survived,
but unfortunately,
her boyfriend died in the shooting.
Since you never know how drivers
could react
even in a minor accident,
you'd better drive carefully.
In the U.S.,
eight of 10 people get caught up
in road rage at least once every year.
And situations can escalate quickly.
No one enjoys being yelled at
or cursed at,
but you'll have a better chance
of surviving
if you don't engage with an angry driver.
The best way
is never to take the attack personally.
So don't yell or gesture back.
The other driver doesn't know you,
and chances are
you'll never see them again.
Engaging with them
would only escalate the situation,
and it could be fatal.
So stay calm and carry on.
If you get caught up in road rage,
don't go home just yet.
If you suspect that
the misadventure isn't over,
and the other driver follows you,
drive to a safe spot
where you can wait it out.
A crowded place is the best option.
There's nothing like a global pandemic
to remind us of what's really important.
COVID-19 changed people's
driving habits in 2020 and 2021,
and those angry feelings
that can lead to road rage incidents
dropped by 1.9%.
Frustration, anger
and aggression at the wheel have
decreased since 2020.
Maybe we should keep this up
even when the pandemic is over.
Good job.
You survived a road rage situation,
and you can carry on.
But wait.
It looks like the road is twisty
and the car is going downhill.
Now you’re hanging off a cliff.
But relax,
we've got just the video for you.
Find out here.