Check Your Road Rage At The Door
We all probably think we are the perfect driver on the road (well I am for sure), and it’s the other drivers that make the ridiculous mistakes – how dare they get in our way! But is it really our job to teach these drivers a ‘lesson’ by getting aggressive? This would be road rage, and we at Jeff Davis Insurance would like to help explain to our fellow drivers in Louisiana why we should think before we act on this rage.
Road Rage is a criminal offense
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that road rage “involves a criminal act of violence, whereas aggressive driving can range from tailgating to speeding to running red lights.”
In saying that, if you caused an accident by running a stop sign, it would most likely be a traffic offense.
If you cause an accident by running a stop sign while tailgating someone you’re raging against, it most likely would result in a criminal charge.
Why that is BAD news
- YOU’RE NOW A RED FLAG – having a criminal offense on your driving record will substantially hike-up the costs of your insurance costs, no matter the carrier.
- OPTIONS ARE NOW LIMITED – As with drivers with a DUI or reckless driving charge, less and less insurance companies are willing to take on the risk of insuring you.
- YOU FOOT THE BILL – Generally speaking insurance is designed to cover accidents, not intentional acts of road rage. So get ready to pay out-of-pocket when you cause damage from road rage.
- SORRY, NO FINGER POINTING – Even if you did not initiate the rage which caused damage, you can still be held responsible and charged just by engaging with the other driver.
What we’ve learned
Loosen up. Take deep breathes. Plan ahead. Practice patience. Use your etiquette. Not everyone can be as good a driver as we, but getting hostile is toxic and creates risk that is not nearly worth it.
Contact Jeff Davis Insurance for your Louisiana Auto Insurance needs!
Remember, we’re looking out for you!