A new report issued from a national gun control advocacy group has found that the number of road rage incidents involving firearms appears to be increasing nationwide — with Florida leading the way.
The report, released by a nonprofit group called The Trace, features data from 2015 to 2015. The organization found that there were 620 road rage incidents involving guns in 2016, and there were 146 in Florida alone over a recent two-year period.
If the statistics are accurate, they present a grim view of the hazards of road rage. Drivers who lose their temper and drive erratically are already dangerous, as they usually have a 5,000-pound motor vehicle to use as a weapon. When you add firearms to the equation, the situation becomes even worse.
A growing concern statewide
The state of Florida has taken steps to reduce road rage, including a law that prohibits drivers from going less than 10 miles per hour in the fast lane of a highway. But with more congestion, a spokesperson with auto club AAA says, the risk of road rage incidents occurring increases exponentially. In fact, a recent survey AAA conducted found that roughly 80 percent of motorists admitted to experiencing significant anger while driving over the past year.
When drivers engage in aggressive behaviors, they risk the safety of everyone on Florida’s roads and highways. If you have been injured in a car accident you believe was due to road rage or other forms of negligence, meet with an experienced Sarasota County personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.