Angry Karen Brake Checks The Wrong Person... (Road Rage) (2024)

FAQs

How do you deal with someone brake checking you? ›

Regardless of the reason, brake checking is unsafe and considered reckless driving. The better option is to slow down and pull your car over in a safe location, letting the tailgating driver pass. If you feel threatened, however, call the police.

Certain psychological factors, including displaced anger and high life stress, are also linked to road rage. In addition, studies have found that people who experience road rage are more likely to misuse alcohol and drugs. Understanding what fuels this dangerous behavior may help psychologists curb it.

As brake checking is illegal and reckless, you could be held liable if you were brake checking and it caused an accident. If you were brake checking because another driver was speeding and tailgating you, the other driver could also be held liable.

It is important to remember that brake checking a tailgater is never recommended. The at-fault driver could lead to liability for damages and severe injuries in a modified comparative negligence state. You could be held responsible for any damages resulting from your actions.

Social maladjustment theory and personal maladjustment theory posit that road rage is rooted in anti-social personality disorders or increased levels of anger, stress, or negativism.

They are “road-ragers” with “short fuses” who try to drive people off the road. In the video, the psychologist explains that dangerous driving “encompasses everything that is narcissism.” Dangerous drivers lack empathy for other people's safety and are entitled, arrogant, impatient and validation-seeking.

In conclusion, road rage is not just a case of a bad attitude on the road. It's often a symptom of underlying mental health issues. By addressing these underlying issues, we can help reduce road rage and make our roads safer for everyone. If you're struggling with road rage, don't hesitate to seek professional help.

Don't get out of the car, Fischer said.) You should also call 911 if you're being followed. “Tell the dispatcher you have an aggressive road rage driver that's following you, and the dispatcher is going to start quickly relaying that information” to an officer, Fremin said.

If someone cuts you off, slow down and give them room to merge into your lane. Driving slowly in the left lane. If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move over and let them by.

What are 3 types of road rage? ›

Don't retaliate. If you find yourself being subjected to road rage, and another driver is being confrontational or aggressive, ignore them and don't make eye contact or react in any way that they can see.

Avoid eye contact. Ignore rude gestures and refuse to return them. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Not all aggressive driving behavior is directed at you.

The goal of brake checking for a negligent or reckless driver is often to send a signal to another driver. Driver A might brake check Driver B if Driver B is following too closely, tailgating, honking, flashing their lights, or otherwise driving aggressively.

This is the most common cause of rear-end collisions where the front driver is usually found at fault. If a car suddenly moves in front of you that is moving significantly slower than you are, that brakes suddenly, or that cuts too closely in front of your car, that car's driver is the cause of the accident.

What Is Brake Checking? Brake checking occurs when a motorist intentionally slams on their brakes to startle, irritate, or intimidate the driver behind them. The driver on the receiving end of a brake check is typically forced to brake suddenly or swerve into a neighboring lane to avoid causing a rear-end collision.

If you're hit from behind by a tailgater, they'll typically be considered at fault in the accident, and their liability coverage should cover your damage and injury costs.

Why Do People Brake Check Trucks? People brake check trucks because truck drivers must react much quicker and harder than any other road user due to the sheer weight of the vehicle; It also takes them longer to speed back up again.

Technically, brake checking is illegal. It is the intentional act of forcing drivers behind you to either brake suddenly or swerve to avoid a collision. It is always dangerous, and drivers who feel they are being tailgated should opt instead to get out of the way of the tailgating driver behind them.

Studies on gender and traffic safety say males under the age of 19 are the most likely to exhibit road rage and tailgate. However, in a study to explore those who say they experience road rage more than four times a week, 34% were 18-34 years old and female.

Is road rage a form of anxiety? ›

Individuals with undiagnosed anxiety may find themselves lashing out and becoming frustrated over everyday occurrences that usually do not warrant an emotional reaction. Road rage is a perfect example of this. Traffic and crowds are often triggers of anxiety, which can result in becoming angry with people on the road.

Psychopaths have a bad temper

“Outside of a relationship, they might have road rage or be constantly getting into arguments.” Noticing this sign might be harder than it sounds: a psychopath's charm usually covers his or her anger tendencies.

According to studies, people with road rage tend to be impulsive, angry, anxious. Other studies point to just how common it is. Consistent road rage was such a tangible, obvious red flag.

Narcissistic rage occurs when a narcissist's beliefs about their perceived importance or grandiosity are confronted. In turn, they respond with extreme anger toward the perceived threat. Whether narcissistic rage results from criticism, losing control, or minor setbacks, being on the receiving end can be terrifying.

Narcissists' behavior is driven by the pursuit of social status | Tilburg University.

Social maladjustment theory and personal maladjustment theory posit that road rage is rooted in anti-social personality disorders or increased levels of anger, stress, or negativism.

External factors include running late and heavy traffic or traffic delays, which are cited as some of the most common motivations for aggressive driving. When drivers are behind schedule, they often respond by speeding, which can cause other aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating.

These disorders can lead to alterations in mood and behaviors, which can increase the rageful, impulsive, and aggressive driving in individuals with ADHD. ADHD is often associated with oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder: both of which can further increase the likelihood of road rage [23, 41].

Road rage in its simplest form occurs when a driver reacts angrily to other drivers, cutting them off, tailgating, gesturing or waving a fist. At its worst, the angry driver may become more aggressive and try to kill or injure another driver.

Are strong emotions a reason for road rage? ›

Road rage is especially perilous because it makes drivers want to hurt others. Emotions affect driving. If you feel upset, it can cause you to respond inappropriately to other drivers. It can lead to aggressive, fearful, and risky driving behavior that you would not normally engage in.

The phrase “cutting someone off” refers to a more general violation of proper driving etiquette. It usually happens when someone is switching lanes. This breach of basic driving etiquette can happen on freeways and city/town streets. Cutting someone off can lead to an accident.

What Does “Cutting Someone Off” Mean? Have you ever experienced someone speeding up while driving to enter your lane, which suddenly causes you to hit the brakes? That's what cutting off is. It's an informal phrase describing this driving etiquette infringement, leaving you, if not mildly, then intensely irritated.

If you do any of the following: Driving aggressively, tailgating, failing to signal, veering out of your lane, speeding, riding your brakes, making sudden stops and starts, bad parallel parking, swerving in and out of traffic. The list goes on and on.

Road rage can be caused by environmental factors and psychological factors. Self-identified high-anger drivers engage in hostile, aggressive thinking, express disbelief about how others drive, and consider revenge. Impatience may lead to erratic driving, as vehicle operators prioritize speed over safety.

Hostile personality and being over competitive are two factors that contribute to being an aggressive driver. People that are egocentric, impulsive, overconfident to handle problems and those with poor problem-solving skills are more prone to aggressive driving.

It is common for drivers to brake check to communicate their closeness to the vehicle behind them. If other drivers follow too closely, you can brake check as a warning to show the potential problem. Most often, the driver behind is forced to leave more distance.

Avoid yelling, gesturing in the direction of the tailgater, and doing anything else that could upset them even more. Let the tailgater pass. If you're on a multi-lane road, move over to the right when it's safe, giving the driver a chance to pass you on the left.

What Is Brake Checking? Brake checking occurs when a motorist intentionally slams on their brakes to startle, irritate, or intimidate the driver behind them. The driver on the receiving end of a brake check is typically forced to brake suddenly or swerve into a neighboring lane to avoid causing a rear-end collision.

Typically, someone is tailgating you because they want you to drive faster. In this case, remember that it's not your responsibility to follow their desired speed limit, just the posted one. In more severe cases, tailgating may be an expression of road rage.

Why do people brake on the highway? ›

Many drivers are just not paying attention, and become lulled almost to sleep on highways. So if they suddenly become more alert, it's like waking up, and suddenly realizing that what's going on around you is real, so drivers like this react by first braking, the safest move they think of at the time.