ROAD RAGE LEADS TO CATASTROPHIC RESULTS
Earlier this month, a tree limb impaled an Illinois woman's leg as a result of a crash on Interstate 70 in Indiana. The accident was reportedly due to road rage. The 30-year old injured woman was a mere passenger in the vehicle. The driver told police that he lost control of his car after a gray Mustang swerved into his car as he drove in the right westbound lane. According to the driver, the Mustang had been tailgating him prior to the accident.
Road rage has become a big problem in the United States. In fact, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that unverified figures of up to 1,200 road rage-related deaths a year have been reported. A survey commissioned by the Automobile Association in 1995 found that 90% of drivers had experienced road rage incidents in the previous year and over 60% of respondents had admitted losing their tempers while behind the wheel.
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) recommends the following tips to avoid road rage:
* Don't yell or use obscene gestures.
* Don't block the passing lane. Stay to the right if you are obstructing the flow of traffic.
* Always signal when changing lanes. Use your horn sparingly.
* Don't tailgate.
* Cooperate and don't compete on the road. Let other drivers merge into traffic in an orderly fashion.
* Don't take another's actions personally. Everybody makes mistakes.
At the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll, we have won million-dollar settlements for car crash victims. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, please contact us.
