A few years ago, on the way to a golf course in the Texas Hill Country, an impatient driver trying to make his tee time, was skirting through light traffic in a neighborhood at over 50 mph.

I heard his honking and noticed his rage as he weaved past cars in the long 20 mph zone.

As usual, local police pulled him over. Let’s just say he missed his tee time and the day did not turn out well for him.

I knew the officer who later told me the driver was clocked at 54 mph, but the really bad news was that he was inebriated. It was 9:15 in the morning.

1. Road Rage Stems From Aggressive Driving

Road rage is commonly mistaken for aggressive driving. Aggressive driving is an epidemic especially in large cities, but has been increasing considerably in rural areas. 

It usually takes the form of tailgating, reckless lane changes, speeding, honking, and leering. It is when these actions lead to a violent altercation that it becomes a road rage incident. This includes running another driver off the road, brandishing a weapon, and even hand-to-hand combat.

2. Road Rage Accidents Are More Common Than You Think

The troubles of everyday life can be overbearing for many people. One missed turn signal could send someone over the edge into a fit of road rage. In fact, a AAA study found that over 12,500 injuries could be linked to road rage over a seven-year period. That’s about 1,786 road rage injuries per year, or nearly 150 road rage injuries per month.

3. A Weapon Is Often Involved

In two recent road rage cases, a gun and a golf club were used in the climax of aggressive behavior.

It is very common for a weapon to be used in the thralls of road rage, so it’s imperative that you do not engage an aggressive driver for this very reason. It seems that aggressive drivers have a higher likelihood of possessing a weapon (or something that can be used as a weapon) in their vehicle.

4. You Can Report an Enraged Driver

If you believe someone on the road is exhibiting signs of aggressive driving or road rage, you can report it to the local authorities.

Reporting an aggressive driver will protect other drivers from being harmed by this individual.

Pull over in a safe area and call 911 or the local non-emergency number. Tell them the details of the vehicle as well as where the location of the reckless driving occurred.

Note some states or local jurisdictions have different 2 or 3-digit numbers to dial (New Jersey #77, Texas 311, *277 in Colorado, etc.) and be prepared to give the make and model of the vehicle in question, as well as the license plate number. An officer will take this information and search for the individual in question.

Before you do the reporting, keep these things in mind:

• Jot down vehicle information and characteristics. You need to gather as much information about the car as possible: license plate number, window tint (if any), bumper stickers, and things like the number of passengers and driver description. If you have a dashcam, you could also provide a video to the police. However, you must ensure that it’s safe to report all this information, as you can’t concentrate on the conversation with the police and driving at the same time.
• Avoid following the car or tailgating. The driver may be unwell and under the influence of alcohol or other substances if he’s driving recklessly. So, if you notice such behavior, please make sure not to follow the car or come in its way. Ensure you are safe first and are in no immediate danger by pulling over to the road shoulder and only then giving the police a call. 
• Report the incident from home. You can file a report against the vehicle on the national database if you remember the license plate. You can lodge your complaint on apps like Bad Driver or even report this person to the DMV if you think they are a reckless driver. But be aware you will probably have to fill out a form for this. 
• Report a government vehicle. If you catch a government vehicle engaging in dangerous driving, you can also report it. However, to do so, you need to be able to recognize government vehicles with ease. In the US, any license plate number beginning with G belongs to the government. To report this reckless driver, you can send an email to howsmydriving@gsa.gov.

Across the 660 U.S. cities surveyed, on average, 10.8% of drivers have been cited for aggressive driving behavior. Among the top cities in every state, however, the average rate jumps to 14.0%, a whopping 30% greater than the national average. Petersburg, Virginia has the highest aggressive driving rate in the nation. The city with the lowest rate of aggressive driving is The Villages, Florida, with 3.6% of drivers reporting aggressive citations on their record — 66% lower than the national average.

At 18.5%, drivers in Kennewick, Washington have the highest speeding rate in the nation, exceeding the national average by 95%. Meriden, Connecticut has the lowest speeding rate in the nation at 3.2%, which is 66% lower than the national average.

Citrus Heights, California has the highest failure to stop rate in the nation at 55.3 per 1000 drivers, which is a staggering 394% higher than the national average. The Villages, Florida has the lowest nationwide rate at 1.3 per 1,000 drivers, standing 89% lower than the national average.

Aggressive driving can come in many forms, even if they occur less frequently. The average failure to yield citation rate across U.S. cities is 40.6 per 10,000 drivers. The average rate of reckless driving is 10.7 per 10,000 drivers. For tailgating and passing where prohibited, the average rate is 8.5 per 10,000 drivers and 6.0 per 10,000 drivers, respectively.

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Loralyn ‘Dodie’ & Jack Dennis

Thanks for supporting independent true journalism with a small tip. Dodie & Jack

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