We have all heard the term road rage but may not have fully understood how dangerous it is. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), road rage is when a driver “commits moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property; an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of one motor vehicle on the operators or passengers of another motor vehicle.”
There is a difference between aggressive driving and actual road rage. Road rage is usually a criminal offense. Aggressive driving actions usually only result in traffic citations.
An article in Psychology Today states that incidents of road rage include the following:
- Intentionally tailgating
- Yelling at other drivers
- Honking to show displeasure with other drivers
- Trying to block another vehicle from changing lanes
- Cutting off another vehicle on purpose
- Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver
- Bumping or ramming another vehicle intentionally