Oklahoma has some serious road rage, ranking 4th in the nation for road rage incidents, and a growing number of those incidents involving a firearm.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma has some serious road rage, ranking 4th in the nation for road rage incidents, and a growing number of those incidents involving a firearm.
Nearly 87% of Oklahoma drivers say they have been involved in a road rage incident, according to a study done by Forbes Advisor.
One doctor points to the mental side of things, and what drivers can do to stay calm in the moment.
"Are we in a rush and we need to get a place? Are we angry, mad, upset about something that's going on in our lives?" Dr. Britta Ostermeyer, Chief of Psychiatry at OU Health asked.
Why do people get so upset while driving, leading to a road rage incident? Dr. Ostermeyer says it usually has to deal with something outside of the driving incident itself.
"These factors relate to, have we slept enough? Are we stressed out?" Dr. Ostermeyer said. "The hot weather is a stress to all of us."
This leads to road rage from even the smallest of inconveniences.
"It's as simple as trying to merge onto the highway," Preston Cox, trooper with Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) said.
However, it can also lead to more serious incidents like someone pulling out a gun, which has increased across the country by 400% in the last decade.
"I would personally have firearms there to protect yourself if you're doing it appropriately," Cox said. "Everyone has the right to carry and bear their arms deemed fit. That is, to be responsible about it, because nine times out of ten that road rage incident didn't have to become a road rage incident."
Oklahoma ranks 4th in the nation for the worst road rage in drivers, but Dr. Ostermeyer says these tips can help keep people calm in the moment.
"It's important to sleep regular hours, around eight hours," Dr. Ostermeyer said. "It's important that we are not drinking a little or doing some drugs or having too much caffeine or flustered and nervous while going to the car. It's helpful to give yourself extra time, leave earlier because we don't know what traffic will look like if something happens on the road."
If you do find yourself in a road rage incident, OHP says to call them; give them as much detail of the vehicle and the driver then let them handle it, because it isn't something worth losing your life over.
