Road rage is a behavior that the average driver tends to gravely underestimate. The reality is that road rage, along with general aggressive driving behavior, contributes heavily to vehicle-related injuries and fatalities practically every day.
Road rage itself refers to violent behavior resulting from the stress or frustration of circumstances that arise while driving, to which some individuals may be more susceptible than others. Illinois drivers can remain safe and informed by understanding certain road rage statistics that apply to both the state and the United States as a whole.
Statistic linking road rage with shootings
Illinois state police report an alarming trend of correlation between road rage and expressway shootings, particularly in the Chicago area. 189 shootings occurred on Illinois expressways in 2022, and road rage was a reported factor in 40% of those in the Chicago area. This link between road rage and violent shootings is a threat to drivers all across the state of Illinois.
Statistic linking road rage with fatal accidents
Road rage is also a factor in many fatal accidents across the nation. According to the National Safety Council, road rage caused 616 vehicle crashes across the U.S. in 2021. The NSC classifies road rage as a form of improper driving which, by the organization’s definition, means that it is a behavior that negatively influences a driver’s abilities of recognition, decision-making or performance.
Road rage can lead to carelessness that causes fatal accidents or even more extreme acts of violence is some cases. If you sustain an injury due to another individual’s road rage or other acts of improper driving, you have the right to pursue legal action and compensation.