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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A recent report shows road rage incidents are on the rise and often turn deadly.</p><p>According to a report released Thursday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year.</p><p>The most alarming findings suggest approximately 8 million U.S. drivers engaged in extreme examples of road rage, including purposefully ramming another vehicle or getting out of their car to confront another driver.</p><p>In Pennsylvania in 2015, PennDOT says there were 33,176 crashes that were speed-related with 467 fatal crashes. Tailgating is also highlighted as a contributing factor of crashes by PennDOT. In 2015, tailgating contributed to 5,829 crashes in Pennsylvania, five of them fatal.</p><p>&#8220;When you are looking at what people are doing behind the wheel and you see 80 percent of drivers behaving this way, it throws up a red flag,&#8221; said Jana Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. &#8220;These are not isolated, freak incidents. This study shows us that motorists are purposely tailgating, yelling at other drivers, honking their horns &#8212; this is aggression behind the wheel.&#8221;</p><p>Tidwell said AAA&#8217;s research department compiles annual reports on traffic studies and that this is the first report done on road rage because occurrences are increasing dramatically.</p><p>&#8220;What people don&#8217;t realize is this is a big safety issue,&#8221; Tidwell said. &#8220;You are not only putting your life at risk, but the lives of every other motorist and passenger on the road, as well.&#8221;</p><p>Tidwell said inconsiderate driving, bad traffic and the daily stresses of life can transform minor frustrations into dangerous road rage. She said far too many drivers are losing themselves &#8220;in the heat of the moment&#8221; and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly.</p><p>According to the AAA, PennDOT reports speeding is a large contributor of fatal crashes.</p><p>Nearly 2 in 3 drivers believe aggressive driving is a bigger problem today than three years ago, while 9 out of 10 believe aggressive drivers are a serious threat to their personal safety.</p><p>According to the AAA report:</p><p>&#8226; Male and younger drivers ages 19-39 were significantly more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors. For example, male drivers were more than three times as likely as female drivers to have gotten out of a vehicle to confront another driver or rammed another vehicle on purpose.</p><p>&#8226; Drivers who reported other unsafe behaviors behind the wheel, such as speeding and running red lights, also were more likely to show aggression. For example, drivers who reported speeding on a freeway in the past month were four times more likely to have cut off another vehicle on purpose.</p><p>Across the country, a significant number of drivers reported engaging in angry and aggressive behaviors over the past year, according to study estimates:</p><p>&#8226; Purposefully tailgating: 51 percent (104 million drivers)</p><p>&#8226; Yelling at another driver: 47 percent (95 million drivers)</p><p>&#8226; Honking to show annoyance or anger: 45 percent (91 million drivers)</p><p>&#8226; Making angry gestures: 33 percent (67 million drivers)</p><p>&#8226; Trying to block another vehicle from changing lanes: 24 percent (49 million drivers)</p><p>&#8226; Cutting off another vehicle on purpose: 12 percent (24 million drivers)</p><p>&#8226; Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver: 4 percent (7.6 million drivers)</p><p>&#8226; Bumping or ramming another vehicle on purpose: 3 percent (5.7 million drivers)</p><p><strong>AAA offers tips</strong></p><p>Jake Nelson, AAA&#8217;s director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research, said motorists should never risk escalating a frustrating situation. He said it is always best to maintain a cool head, and focus on safely reaching a destination.</p><p>AAA says for too many motorists, driving becomes a contest trying to get to their destination in the shortest possible time, so forget the need to &#8220;win the race.&#8221; Allow yourself more time for your trip so you don&#8217;t feel rushed.</p><p>Practice relaxation tips such as deep breathing, or listen to soothing music or a book on tape. Also, don&#8217;t drive when extremely angry or overtired.</p><p>If you think you have a problem, seek help; the techniques used in anger management courses can also help angry drivers.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>Tips for reducing road rage incidents</strong></p><p>&#8226; Don&#8217;t offend: You can protect yourself by avoiding behaviors that can enrage other drivers. Examples include cutting off other drivers, driving slowly in the passing lane, tailgating, not using turn signals, honking horn excessively, and gesturing &#8211; whether obscene or not.</p><p>&#8226; Do not respond: Refuse to be angry at an aggressive driver. Avoid eye contact, don&#8217;t make gestures and maintain space around your vehicle. If you feel threatened, contact 9-1-1. Drive to a crowded public place such as a shopping center, hospital or police station.</p><p>&#8226; Alter schedule to avoid traffic: If possible, adjust your work schedule so you are not driving during peak commute hours. If this is not possible, then avoid driving during high traffic times on your days off.</p><p>&#8226; Be tolerant and forgiving: The other driver may be having a bad day. Assume it&#8217;s not personal.</p><p>&#8226; Adjust your attitude: By changing your approach to driving, you can make every trip more pleasant.</p><p>Source: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

AAA report cites concern for road rage incidents