EDITORIAL: Take the high road
We’ve all been there.
Whether blinded by the high beams of a tailgating vehicle or unexpectedly cut off by another, the unexpected maneuvers that occur on short jaunts to the grocery or long drives to the beach are enough to provoke even the most even-tempered among us to raise a shaking fist in frustration.
But road rage incidents appear to have accelerated beyond the occasional rude gesture or honk of a horn.
Last week, a South Strabane Township driver was jailed after he was accused of assaulting a woman who apparently had been following him with her vehicle’s high beams on. The two exited their vehicles at the East Beau Street entrance to Trinity Point, and a witness told police the man threw the woman to the ground and kicked and punched her in the head.
And earlier this month, a Westmoreland County man was charged with aggravated and simple assault in a road rage attack occurring on the Pennsylvania Turnpike off-ramp at Irwin. Investigators said the victim cut off the other motorist on the highway, touching off a 10-mile erratic pursuit that ended in a stabbing.
Beyond the potential for physical harm, road rage can leave lasting emotional scars. A newsroom employee shared that her mother, newly licensed at the age of 60, was waiting at a red light and didn’t accelerate at the light change, prompting the driver behind her to honk and shout obscenities at her. She immediately drove home and never again climbed behind the wheel.
A study released last fall by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported that 96% of drivers admitted engaging in aggressive driving, including speeding, tailgating and cutting off other motorists.
Since 2016, the act of cutting off vehicles has risen 67% while honking out of anger is up 47%.
Even more disturbing: aggressive driving plays a role in nearly 66% of fatalities on the road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Having good manners behind the wheel isn’t just about being polite,” says Dr. Jose Torres, AAA traffic safety advocacy and research manager. “It’s about ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone on the road.”
If you encounter an aggressive driver, follow these tips from AAA:
– Stay calm, and don’t engage.
– Give the other vehicle space to pass and keep your distance.
– Protect yourself. If the encounter escalates, call 911 or go to a public place. Never drive home.
And if you happen to be the person who has been provoked, take a deep breath.
Instead of reacting, take the high road, so you and everyone else can arrive at their destination safely.