Utah tops nation with most road rage drivers

 SALT LAKE CITY — It’s high time Utah drivers CHILL OUT! According to a Forbes survey, Utah tops the list of states with the most confrontational drivers.

Two people killed in road-rage crash near Eagle Mountain are identified

Of those surveyed, about 1 in 4 Utahn drivers (27%) said they know of someone in their state who was injured due to a road rage incident.

1 shot, injured by motorcyclist in possible road rage incident on I-15, troopers say

Road-rage deaths and injuries are 100% avoidable

Dave & Dujanovic discuss the recent flare in road rage attacks in Utah with a law enforcement professional. 

“Is this just a bad run of road rage incidents?” Debbie asked. “Or is this something that the Utah Highway Patrol is responding to more often?”

“It is an incident that we respond to more often than we should because these incidents are 100% controllable. We all need to maintain control of our emotions and our driving as we’re out there to keep not only ourselves safe, but those around us,” said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Cameron Roden.

Up to 800 crashes a year linked to road rage in Utah

“Is there a way to track road rage?” Dave asked. “Is this something that you do?”

Roden said that the UHP documents between 700 and 800 road-rage incidents a year that end in a crash. Those road-rage attacks that don’t end in a crash are recorded by the Highway Patrol as either a traffic or a criminal violation.

“We do document if we suspect road rage as part of that crash,” he said. “We do look at those numbers and looking at those numbers over the last several years, we range from anywhere from 700 to 800, and we’re about on par with that for this year as well, but not always do these incidents end in crashes. 

“But as far as incidents that don’t end in a crash, there’s really no tracking mechanism for those because the charge usually ends up being some type of either a traffic violation or some type of a criminal violation,” Roden said.

Play it cool

“What are realistic tips that you give folks if someone starts road raging against us for no reason?” Debbie asked.

“First of all, we control ourselves. We need to make sure that when we’re out there we’re driving in a way that is respectful to others and safe for ourselves and others,” Roden said.

He added instead of escalating and retaliating during a road-rage incident, take the next off-ramp, stop, or turn around. But if the angry driving verges toward violence, call the police.

“As soon as we engage and we start to retaliate, then we become part of the problem. And that retaliation is often time what leads to these escalations.

“Call 911 if necessary to be able to get these incidents stopped. That way law enforcement can respond as quickly as possible, but don’t try to handle these situations yourself. If it becomes dangerous to the point where you feel like you need to separate yourself, try to create that distance. Taken an off-ramp or do something like that to get away from the aggressor,” Roden said.

Related: Driver sentenced to prison for hitting, killing 16-year-old boy

 

Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.