An unbelievably scary scenario played out on a major thoroughfare in Louisiana. A woman says she was driving on I-110 in the Baton Rouge area when her vehicle ended up being pushed into the wall of the interstate.

In recent years, officials in the insurance industry have continued to show information about statistics showing the growing number of aggressive driving incidents.

Candice Meyers, the driver of the vehicle that crashed into the wall, told KLFY that she was driving in the left lane, and a driver came up on the tail of her vehicle, and she realized she was driving too slowly for him.

Meyers says she put on her blinker to signal that she was getting out of the left lane and in the middle lane. She did just that. She says that when the driver of the other vehicle got up on the side of her vehicle and tried to “engage her”. She says she just ignored him. She says she doesn’t know if that further angered him, but he swerved into her lane forcing her into the wall of the interstate.

This frightening tale has a happy ending as Meyers made it out of the crash with just a few cuts and bruises, but she says it’s baffling that people allow themselves to become that angry while driving.

I just think in the moment he was irate. He was angry, and that was his reaction. It is scary that people can get that angry and do something like that and continue driving. Because he never stopped.

According to Louisiana State Legislature, road rage incidents are categorized as part of the reckless driving law.

§99.  Reckless operation of a vehicle

A.  Reckless operation of a vehicle is the operation of any motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, or other means of conveyance in a criminally negligent or reckless manner.

B.(1)  Whoever commits the crime of reckless operation of a vehicle shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than ninety days, or both.

(2)  On a second or subsequent conviction the offender shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than six months, or both.

Acts 2014, No. 791, §7.

What’s the Difference Between Aggressive Driving and Road Rage?

Aggressive driving and road rage are often confused but are distinctly different. Aggressive driving is an unsafe driving practice characterized by a deliberate disregard for the safety of others on the road.

Defining the Terms

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA):

Aggressive Driving: This occurs when a driver commits a series of traffic offenses that endanger other people or property.

Road Rage: This is defined as an assault with a motor vehicle or another dangerous weapon by the operator or passengers of a vehicle, typically triggered by an incident that happened on the road.

Here are Some Common Examples of Aggressive Driving

• Weaving through traffic
• Excessive speeding
• Excessive honking
• Cutting off other vehicles
• Passing on the shoulder
• Tailgating
• Unsafe lane changes
• Failing to signal when changing lanes
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Consequences of Aggressive Driving

If caught by the police or if it causes an accident, aggressive driving can lead to misdemeanor traffic tickets, fines, points on your driving record, and higher auto insurance premiums. Despite being less direct than road rage, aggressive driving can have severe consequences, including fatal accidents involving drivers, passengers, or pedestrians.

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — On This Week in Louisiana Politics, a number of passed laws went into effect July 1, the execution methods for death row inmates have expanded and the Louisiana Attorney General filed against President Biden’s ban on natural gas exports.

Airports in Louisiana have gotten major upgrades because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act. The legislation passed and secured billions for the state’s transportation infrastructure.

Later, Fred Childers spoke with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy to discuss the pause of any new natural gas exports.

A federal judge ordered the Louisiana State Penitentiary has days to fix its farmwork plan for hot weather.

Latest News

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – U.S. opioid-related deaths dramatically increased between 2015 and 2020, but which states have more opioid-related deaths than all others?

South Dakota developed the highest growth in opioid-related deaths when their state’s statistics rose by 355%.

Montana had a 311% increase.

Louisiana came in third on the list, with a 293% increase in opioid-related death statistics during the five-year period.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, opioid abuse is a problem in Louisiana where almost all indicators… addiction to opioid medications, overdose deaths, emergency room admissions and over-prescribing… are evidence of the problem.

Three states also decreased the number of opioid-related deaths during the same period. Those states were Oklahoma, Utah, and New Hampshire.

A nationwide rise in the number of opioid-related deaths seems to have been driven by a corresponding rise in synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

The opioid crisis has caused record levels of addictions and deaths, and efforts to curb the crisis often highlight public health and policy issues.

Indiana, Delaware, and New Jersey also saw a more than 200% increase in the number of people who died of opioid-related issues between 2015 and 2020.

A spokesperson for Whitley Law Firm, which conducted a study to determine which state had the largest rise in the number of opioid-related deaths, said that it’s crucial to adopt comprehensive strategies if we are, as a society, to address the growing epidemic known as opioid addiction.

Whitley Law Firm promotes the expansion of access to addiction treatment, the implementation of robust prevention programs, and enhancing harm reduction efforts like naloxone distribution.

The firm used data from Center for Disease Control and Prevention in their study. They used data about deaths between 2015 and 2020.  

Check out the following list to find out where your state ranks on the list:

If you or someone you know has an opioid addiction, visit the state of Louisiana’s opioid help website.