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Motor vehicle drivers

Road Rage on the Rise: A Growing Concern in West-Central Illinois

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Frustration while driving is a familiar experience for many motorists, including those in west-central Illinois. According to a 2019 survey by the American Automobile Association, nearly 80% of drivers experienced significant anger, aggression, or road rage within the past 30 days. Law enforcement officials in the Jacksonville area are seeing an increase in road rage incidents, with the Jacksonville Police Department and Morgan County Sheriff's Department responding to about six instances within the past month alone. While these incidents rarely escalate to violence, officials warn that it's "very easy" for a heated argument to turn physical.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nearly 80% of drivers in the United States experienced significant anger, aggression, or road rage within the past 30 days, according to a 2019 survey by the American Automobile Association (AAA).
  • Jacksonville-area law enforcement agencies have responded to about six instances of road rage within the past month alone.
  • Jacksonville Police Lt. Mark Lonergan estimates that the department is called out to a half-dozen to a dozen instances of road rage per month.
  • Road rage incidents typically involve aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating, cutting off other drivers, or exchanging hand signals or verbal messages.
  • Such incidents rarely escalate beyond harsh words, but officials warn that it's "very easy" for a heated argument to turn physical.
  • Jacksonville Police Lt. Mark Lonergan encourages drivers to "give your neighbor a little bit of grace" when dealing with frustrating situations on the road and to remember that "the one thing you can control is the way you react to a situation."

Statistics:

  • 79% of drivers in the United States experienced significant anger, aggression, or road rage within the past 30 days, according to a 2019 survey by AAA (1).
  • Between Jacksonville Police Department and Morgan County Sheriff's Department, there were six instances of road rage in the past month, as of the article's publication date (2).
  • Jacksonville Police Lt. Mark Lonergan estimates that the department is called out to half-dozen to a dozen instances of road rage per month (3).

Sources:

  • (1) American Automobile Association. (2019). 2019 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety National Driving Study.
  • (2) Jacksonville Journal-Courier (Jacksonville, Ill.). (2023).
  • (3) Jacksonville Police Department records and Lt. Mark Lonergan's comments as reported in the article.

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