It’s quite common for another driver in Texas to anger you while you’re behind the wheel. Whether it’s due to a tailgater, someone not using their signals or simply speeding up and slowing down erratically in front of you, it can be hard to control your frustrations. Unfortunately, this emotion has been known to lead to road rage, which can be dangerous for everyone on the roadway.
Road rage in Texas
Texas considers aggressive driving and behavior a traffic offense, even if no physical contact between drivers is involved. This is because the human body perceives anger or such behaviors as stress, which triggers the limbic system to fight or flee. On the road, where there are several moving vehicles and people, this kind of behavior can lead to fatal car accidents, regardless of whether it was intentional or not.
Road rage statistics
The American Automobile Association estimates that about 8 out of 10 drivers demonstrate some form of road rage when on the road. As a result, over the past seven years, 12,610 people have sustained severe injuries, while 218 have died due to road rage-related car crashes.
Preventing road rage and related accidents
The best way to avoid road rage is to remain calm behind the wheel and not take other drivers’ behaviors personally. It’s also important to give yourself plenty of time for your journey, so you don’t feel rushed or frustrated if someone drives erratically ahead of you. Stay clear of confrontations with verbally abusive people or potentially dangerous situations would be ideal.
It’s important to remain vigilant when on the road in Texas, as aggressive driving behaviors can quickly escalate into dangerous situations. However, if an accident, unfortunately, occurs, you can hold the aggressive driver accountable by filing a claim against their insurance company or the court.
