Road Rage Linked to Crash in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. A crash between two vehicles on April 10, 2018, in the city left one woman with serious injuries. The other driver left the scene without stopping. The crash occurred in the 7000 block of 26th Street near Elkhorn Boulevard shortly before 5:00 in the afternoon when a white Buick sedan, driven by an unidentified woman, was struck by a minivan. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the minivan, driven by a male, may have been chasing the sedan.
Driver Trapped in Vehicle
The woman in the sedan was reportedly trapped inside the vehicle and suffered major injuries as a result of the crash. The driver of the minivan did not remain at the accident scene but instead kept heading north along 26th Street. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene to attend the woman. The identities of those involved in the crash are unknown at this time, and no word has been released on which hospital the injured woman was taken to for treatment.
Road Rage
Aggressive driving is an example of uncontrollable anger incited by another driver’s actions or other events. It can easily escalate into road rage and cause harm to another driver. While aggressive driving is considered a civil offense, road rage can be a criminal one. Road rage is the use of aggressive driving traffic maneuvers to hurt another person or the use of direct assault with the vehicle or a weapon in the vehicle.
Assault and Road Rage
According to California Vehicle Code 13210, the driver who exhibits road rage and assaults another motor vehicle driver, pedestrian or cyclist may have their license suspended for six months to one year. Drivers with a conviction of road rage are instructed to take an anger management course. The period of suspension can be ordered to begin after incarceration or as soon as he or she is convicted. Assault is a criminal offense and charged separately.
How Common Is Road Rage?
Road rage is often used to describe angry driving with assault to a motor vehicle or driver. Police report approximately 1,200 instances of serious road rage annually. However, lesser events occur more commonly. To gain an understanding of the prevalence of anger-related driving, the American Automobile Association polled over 2,705 drivers in 2014. Of these, 78 percent said that at times they had exhibited aggressive driving behavior in the previous year. The most prevalent behavior reported involved tailgating, followed by abusive language and blowing a vehicle’s horn. Other types of behavior occurred to a lesser extent.
What Is Aggressive Driving Behavior?
Aggressive driving behaviors are those directly linked to anger while on the road. They are illegal acts such as:
- Following another vehicle too closely
- Refusing to use turn signals
- Interacting aggressively with other drivers, using hand signals and language
- Speeding
- Cutting other vehicles off
- Flashing headlights
- Braking inappropriately
Age and Gender Linked to Aggressive Driving
Younger males are most likely to behave aggressively while driving. Drivers in the age group 19 to 24 report trying to block another vehicle, hit another vehicle or prevent the vehicle from switching lanes. Males are linked to aggressive driving and road rage more often than females.
Aggressive Driving and Injuries
Safemotorist.com links 66 percent of highway deaths to aggressive driving. Of these, roughly 37 percent were perpetrated by a weapon, usually a firearm in the vehicle. Approximately half of all drivers convicted of road rage had driven aggressively in the past. Authorities recommend not interacting in any way with an aggressive driver, avoiding an escalation of the behavior.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Aggressive driving can result in fatalities and injuries. If you or a loved one was hurt in this way call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for friendly advice, free of charge. Contact me online if it is easier for you.
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