On June 9, 2015, an Elwood, Indiana, man traveling in a pickup truck on eastbound Interstate 74 in Montgomery proceeded to pass a semi-truck driver on the right, while abruptly changing lanes in front of the semi-truck driver just before a one-lane restricted construction zone. Thereafter, the Elwood man then began driving in front of the semi and slamming his brakes which initially caused the semi to tap the Elwood man’s pickup before ultimately resulting in a substantial rear-end collision with the pickup truck. Prior to police arriving at the scene of the collision, both drivers argued until the Elwood man pulled out a firearm and fired several shots at the semi. When the police arrived, the Elwood man was taken into custody for preliminary charges of criminal recklessness and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.
Road rage and aggressive driving are common occurrences while traveling on any roadway, and the impact of this dangerous driving behavior can lead not only to civil liability for potential accidents, but, as demonstrated above, even possible criminal penalties. To avoid the dangers of road rage, here’s some following tips to avoid road rage.
- Plan and prepare for driving and traffic conditions to avoid last-minute stress and anxiety
- Avoid busy interstate highways during know rush hour periods
- Avoid aggressive drivers and report any dangerous actions by the other driver that may place you in harm.
- Make way for drivers traveling at faster speeds than your vehicle
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that 66% of all traffic fatalities were the result of aggressive driving and that 37% of all aggressive driving incidents involved the use of a firearm. As the dangers of aggressive driving and road rage may result in death or serious injury, we at Schiller Law advise you to be patient and aware of surroundings at all times while on the road. If you are the victim of a reckless driver, please contact our experienced legal team at 888-578-3100 or on the web at schillerlawoffices.com.
Sources:
Indy Star
NHTSA