Illinois
Police say road rage a growing concern for Illinois drivers
It often starts with something seemingly trivial: A driver tailgates, or doesn’t signal.
Angry glances and words are exchanged. Things can turn violent, even deadly.
Illinois State Police said common signs of road rage or aggressive driving can include:
- Following too closely or tailgating.
- Improper or erratic lane changing.
- Illegally driving on the shoulder of the road (emergency lane), in a ditch/median, or on a sidewalk.
- Passing where prohibited.
- Operating the vehicle in an erratic, reckless, careless, or negligent manner or suddenly changing speeds.
- Failure to yield right of way.
- Failure to obey traffic laws, signs and devices.
- Failure to yield to emergency personnel and construction zone speed limits.
- Failure to signal.
- Driving too fast for conditions or in excess of posted speed limit.
- Racing.
- Making an improper turn.
Road rage is not new. But Illinois State Police is concerned about the growing number of reports across the state.
The agency hopes to reverse that trend through the awareness and education campaign “Road Rage. Don’t Engage.”
“We’re seeing people react more aggressively and dangerously,” Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly said. “The message is simple — if you see or become part of a road rage situation, don’t engage. That extra car length you gain by cutting someone off, or arriving 10 seconds earlier by tailgating another person, is not worth your life.”
Forbes Advisor said road rage violence is up nationwide. Illinois, its surveying showed, is the eighth most-confrontational state, with 29.5% of drivers reporting an encounter is which someone got out of their vehicle to yell or fight. It’s not just happening on busy roads, either. The same survey found 15% occurred in parking lots, 12% at intersections and 7% on rural roads.
State police hope to educate people about how to avoid becoming a victim by not only avoiding driving habits that can trigger anger in others, but by not engaging those driving recklessly.
Among the recommendations:
- If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move to your right and allow them to pass.
- If someone cuts you off, slow down and give them room to merge into your lane.
- If a speeding driver is tailgating you, safely change lanes when able.
Creating distance and avoiding eye contact or gestures can help lessen confrontation, according to state police.
Those who find themselves facing a road rage situation can call 911 or go to the nearest police station to report it, police said.