AAA, CHP recommend taking these steps to avoid being a victim of road rage

A road-rage attack that led to the fatal shooting of a child on Friday drew national attention to road violence on Southern California freeways and had authorities urging motorists confronted by an angry driver to stay calm and call police.

 

Even if you’re driving carefully, there will be others who drive aggressively and are in a hurry to get somewhere.

 

Millions of drivers around the nation drive aggressively at some point, according to a 2019 study by the American Automobile Association.

 

On Friday morning, a road-rage attack on the 55 Freeway in Orange ended in the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy, California Highway Patrol officials said. A manhunt was underway for the suspect, who reportedly drove a white sedan, possibly a Volkswagen, said Officer Florentino Olivera, a spokesman for the CHP’s Santa Ana office.

 

AAA and law enforcement officials recommend taking these steps if confronted by an aggressive driver.

 

Try not to engage and try to avoid escalating the situation, law enforcement officials say.

 

Olivera tells his own family to ignore aggressive drivers. But if a road rage situation somehow escalates, he said the best thing to do is call law enforcement using handless devices, such as Bluetooth, or find somewhere safe to pull over and call.

 

It’s also important to be aware of your surroundings, in case someone does become violent. That way information can be reported to officials, Olivera said.

 

Sgt. Shane Carringer, an Anaheim police spokesman, compared road rage to a fistfight.

 

“It usually takes two people to engage,” he said.

 

It’s important to not get embroiled and to continue to be a defensive driver, Carringer said.

 

If there is a confrontation, the AAA also recommends:

 

• Avoid eye contact with angry drivers.
• Not responding to aggression with aggression.
• If you feel there’s a risk, drive to a public place such as a police station, hospital or fire station.
• When parking, allow room to pull out safely in case someone approaches you aggressively.
• Using your horn to attract attention but remain in your locked vehicle.
• If confronted, stay as calm and courteous as possible.
• Call 911 if you feel threatened.

 

Staff Writer Jonah Valdez contributed to this report.

 

Source: Presse-Enterprise