Road rage incidents rising in Delaware
By While there’s no official road rage category on Delaware State Police incident reports, there’s no question that it occurs, seemingly more often these days.
According to the state police, as of Friday, there had been 102 incidents associated with it this year. That’s compared to 99 total in 2021.
The number was 76 in 2018, 85 in 2019 and 93 in 2020.
Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto said the numbers are approximate and that troopers have likely faced more cases than reported.
While the agency doesn’t have a specific definition of road rage, he said, “I think it would be safe to classify an incident involving road rage (as) when a motorist becomes extremely angry with a second motorist, which is usually provoked by the second motorist’s driving behavior.”
Two recent shootings illustrate the dangerous path road rage can take.
In Dover on Nov. 8, a suspect shot a 34-year-old man seated in his vehicle on Seven Hickories Road, police said. The incident followed a case of road rage at around 11:48 a.m., and troopers continue their search for the shooter.
The injured man was transported to an area hospital, and police said Tuesday that no further update was available.
And, on the morning of Sept. 3, a 24-year-old Camden woman’s vehicle was shot, as it traveled alongside a red SUV on South DuPont Boulevard in the Cheswold area, authorities said. The SUV had initially passed the woman’s vehicle on the shoulder, then began slowing and stopping in front of her on the road.
The woman was not injured, and the SUV fled. No make or model of the vehicle was available, nor a description of the driver, police said. No arrest has been announced.
Anyone with information on either of these crimes can call the Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit at 302-698-8540. Details may also be provided via Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or here.
Cpl. DeMalto said the best way to avoid a road rage issue “is to always drive carefully and defensively. Aggressive driving can put others in danger, which can spark emotions and create conflict.
“With that being said, if you are the victim of road rage or if another motorist is approaching you in an aggressive (manner), do not instigate a confrontation. Instead, call 911 and drive to a well-lit, public area, as you await the arrival of police.”
Also, he said, “Road rage incidents start for a plethora of reasons. Many of these reasons stem from aggressive driving behaviors, which can cause someone to feel angry and/or upset. Depending on the circumstances of the case, charges for the suspect can range from moving motor vehicle violations, such as speeding, following too closely, aggressive driving, to criminal charges, such as terroristic threatening, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief.
“Each case is investigated separately, and the circumstances present determine what crimes may be prosecuted.”
And, when it comes to investigations, Cpl. DeMalto said, “Some of the challenges include gathering all of the statements of the witnesses and determining what actually occurred. Emotions typically run high in these incidents, which can lead to hyperbole or mistaken information being relayed to the police.
“With careful interviews and allowing those involved to calm down, our troopers work hard to learn the facts of the incident, while also ensuring that all members of the public are safe.”
In April, The Wall Street Journal reported that road rage shootings in the U.S. have doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels. Citing data from a gun safety group, the paper said such occurrences averaged 44 per month in 2021, compared to 22 per month in 2019.
Further, according to former New York Police Department Detective Mike Sapraicone, founder and president of Squad Security, it is quite likely a variety of factors are contributing to the increase. These include stress associated with COVID-19, high prices due to inflation and a laxer criminal justice system, whereby many criminals believe there will be little or no consequence for their actions, a story posted on PR Newswire said.
Mr. Sapraicone said the first step in avoiding road rage can be taken before you even get in your car. “If some things in life haven’t been going well and you’re under some degree of stress, recognize it could affect your driving,” he noted.
“Take a deep breath and remind yourself you want to get from point A to point B in the most uneventful way possible. Turn on some music that will help you stay calm.”
Additionally, he said, “If you encounter an aggressive driver on the road, let it go and don’t engage. Avoid confrontations in common trouble spots, such as where lanes merge. If someone violates the ‘alternate feed’ credo, just let them in and back off. Responding with your own aggressive act will only escalate the situation.”
As another example, Mr. Sapraicone said riding in left lanes on highways could anger someone who wants to pass you.
“Remember you’re not the highway patrol,” he said. “Just move to the right and let the vehicle behind you pass.”
While The Wall Street Journal report centered on incidents where guns were fired, Mr. Sapraicone said it’s reasonable to conclude that overall cases of road rage have also risen significantly. These include situations where vehicles were damaged or physical fights took place.
But road rage events are often easily avoidable, he added.
“In many cases, it takes two to tango,” he said. “Swallow your pride and move on.”
