How to handle road rage incidents with other motorists

When you think of road rage in Issaquah, the first thing that might come to mind is the exchange of angry words and gestures. You might not realize how much of a role an angry motorist’s actions can play in fatal car accidents.

You likely see it on television all the time: a person cuts off another driver, and the driver rolls down his or her window, waves a fist, and starts yelling.

The person who angered the other driver glares and speeds off. In real life, many road rage incidents do not happen like that. Instead, the raging motorist may speed up to catch the other driver. The result can be a collision that ends in tragedy.

Road rage is another form of aggression

Road rage is a form of aggressive driving behavior that is extremely dangerous. It puts you and everyone else on the road at risk of getting hurt. Though you might not be in the habit of driving aggressively, it is important for you to be able to recognize the signs of aggression in other motorists so you can take appropriate actions to avoid them.

Those who drive aggressively are typically reckless. Common types of reckless driving include:

•        Speeding
•        Erratic driving behavior
•        Traveling too closely to other vehicles
•        Improper turns, lane changes and passes
•        Ignoring traffic signals, laws and signs
•        Not yielding the right of way

It may not be possible for you to avoid all aggressive drivers, but you can try to defuse the situation by staying calm and rational. You should not take anything about your encounters with reckless and aggressive drivers personally.

Think of ways you can safely get out of the situation, while mentally taking note of the driver’s description and vehicle make, model, color, and license plate number.

If the aggressive driver follows you, drive to the nearest police station, mall, or highly populated public place, park your vehicle, and call law enforcement.