Preventing Road Rage Related Accidents: Important Information from Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Dale Appell, P.A.

Have you ever been stuck in rush hour traffic in the Tampa Bay area, such as on I-275 near downtown Tampa or on US 19 in Pasco County? These situations are frustrating, to put it mildly. This frustration can bring out the worst in people, sometimes leading to anger that swells into road rage. Since road rage puts all drivers at risk for an accident, Tampa car accident lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. often tries to educate his clients and the public about the dangers of road rage, as well as ways to prevent it.

Consider these anti-road-rage tips the next time you take to the streets of Tampa Bay, Florida:

1. Manage your time—Most road rage occurs because we are in a rush to get somewhere on time. Plan your day to leave earlier and give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination.
2. Relax and breathe—Try deep breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques anytime you feel angry behind the wheel.
3. Listen to soothing music, books on tape, or talk radio—Loud, aggressive music may make you feel more anxious, but soothing music and words will distract you from your driving difficulties.
4. Get plenty of sleep—Physical and mental exhaustion will give anyone cause to feel irritable. Drowsy driving is dangerous in itself, and it becomes more dangerous when it leads to acts of road rage.
5. Don't take anything personally—If another driver cuts you off or drives too slowly in the fast lane, chances are the driver is totally oblivious to the fact that he or she has made you angry. People make mistakes, or may be distracted by a personal problem or situation in the car that you are not aware of. Please consider cutting other drivers some slack. Who knows, maybe one day they'll return the favor.

There are no reliable statistics tallying the amount of automobile accidents and deaths caused by road rage in Tampa, Florida and beyond. More than a decade ago, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that aggressive driving and road rage are involved in about one-third of all car crashes and in the majority of auto accident fatalities.

It only makes sense that a calm, reasonable driver will have sound judgment behind the wheel. Safe driving takes a lot of concentration and skill; anger will get in the way of a driver's ability to focus. If you have been injured in a road rage incident in the Tampa Bay area, please call Tampa car accident lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. for a free consultation about your case. You may also fill out the form on our website by clicking on the “Do I have a case?” link. We are here to assist car accident victims throughout West Central Florida and beyond, including the communities of Polk, Oldsmar, St Petersburg, Clearwater, Lutz, Pinellas Park, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Pasco, Odessa, and beyond.