Have you ever slammed on your brakes while being tailgated?  Have you ever made an obscene gesture at the person who honked at you while sitting at a red light, right after it had turned green, or perhaps you were the person honking? Have you ever tailgated the car in front of you because they pulled out in front of you and did not accelerate up to speed, causing you to have to slow down? Did you pass the driver who pulled out in front of you while cursing at them? Have you ever changed lanes without signaling because you did not want the driver in the other lane to speed up and not let you in? All of these examples can be considered aggressive driving and can lead to a road rage encounter, and you could be committing a crime.

What is Considered Road Rage?

Road rage is described as the uncontrolled anger of a driver that is often provoked by other drivers and may be expressed in a manner that is aggressive and violent. Road rage is typically limited to actions intended to harm other drivers and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety examples of road rage are:

• Obscene or rude gestures and cursing
• Ramming another vehicle
• Throwing objects
• Forcing another driver from the road

What is an Aggressive Driver?

Georgia code defines aggressive drivers as those operating any motor vehicle with the intent to harass, injure, intimidate, molest, or obstruct others on the road. With this statute in mind, the following examples of aggressive driving are:

• Exceeding the speed limit, especially if there is a lot of traffic

• Tailgating
• Deliberately going slow in front of another car, or cutting off another vehicle 
• Speeding through stop signs or red lights
• Failing to signal before changing lanes
• Keeping other vehicles from changing lanes or passing
• Weaving around on the road in and out of traffic
• Changing lanes without signaling
• Honking repeatedly
• Using brakes or headlights to upset other drivers

What can You do to Protect Yourself from Being a Victim of Road Rage?

Be considerate. We are all human and make mistakes while driving. Take the high road and prevent road rage. Do not slam on the brakes. Use your horn to be a defensive driver, not an aggressive one. Pass the car that pulled out in front of you in a safe and non-threatening manner.  Use your turn signal and check your blind spots. Be predictable. If an aggressive driver tries to make visual contact with you or makes gestures towards you, ignore him or her. If they start following you, do not make eye contact. Call the police and drive to the nearest police station. You do not want to become the next victim of a road rage attack.

Contact an Experienced Attorney Today

If you have been charged with road rage, contact the attorneys at Lankford & Moore Law today. We can help ensure your rights are protected and get the least possible punishment for your crime.