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The local news media frequently covers stories about road rage in our area. On February 1, The News-Press reported that a Cape Coral man pulled a gun when a pedestrian allegedly triggered road rage. Another incident happened just days ago in Cape Coral when a woman’s car window was smashed out.

In September 2018, ABC News reported that Florida leads the nation in road rage cases involving guns. Research data from Gun Violence Archive, a Washington DC-based non-profit organization, showed that since 2014, there were 277 cases in Florida, 220 cases in Texas, and 157 cases in California.

Psychologist Dr. Nydia Conrad told ABC News, “What the studies show is that as the population increases, so do the incidents of aggressive and impulsive behavior. Once you stop seeing someone as a person, once you start seeing them as an object, people are more likely to act aggressively, because they don’t have empathy or sympathy toward the other human being.”

There are signs to look for to determine whether another driver may have road rage. Some of these signs include speeding, tailgating, yelling and/or gesturing at other drivers, racing and weaving in and out of lanes, honking, sudden braking, and flashing lights.

SafeMotorist.com recommends diffusing potential road rage by avoiding eye contact, allowing the other driver plenty of room to pass, continuing to practice safe driving habits, and trying to put some distance between you and the other driver.

Florida’s law pertaining to road rage falls under 316.1923 - Aggressive careless driving. Here are the specifics of this statute.

Aggressive careless driving means committing two or more of the following acts simultaneously or in succession:

(1) Exceeding the posted speed as defined in s. 322.27(3)(d)5.b.

(2) Unsafely or improperly changing lanes as defined in s. 316.085.

(3) Following another vehicle too closely as defined in s. 316.0895(1).

(4) Failing to yield the right-of-way as defined in s. 316.079, s. 316.0815, or s. 316.123.

(5) Improperly passing as defined in s. 316.083, s. 316.084, or s. 316.085.

(6) Violating traffic control and signal devices as defined in ss. 316.074 and 316.075.

“We at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. encourage drivers to recognize that the other driver is a person too and refrain from being involved in potential road-rage accidents. However, should you or a loved one be injured in an accident, we have the experienced legal team available 24/7 to assist you,” said Fort Myers Care Accident Attorney Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.