Road Rage can seem like a natural phenomenon that we all grown to expect on the road today. In fact, 2 out of the top 10 cities in the United States with the worst cases of road rage are right here in Texas, so at Texan Insurance we think it’s important to be aware that besides it being extremely dangerous, it can wreak havoc on the costs of your car insurance.
Road Rage is a criminal offense
The National Highway Traffic Administration draws a distinction between aggressive driving and road rage. Aggressive driving is dangerous on-the-road behavior such as speeding, tailgating, weaving and running stop signs or red lights. Road rage involves angry or violent behaviors at the extreme end of the aggressive-driving spectrum. In short, running a stop sign because you are late is aggressive driving – running a stop sign to tailgate a car that cut you off is road rage, and can equate to criminal charges.
It’ll cost you:
When a road rage incident shows up on your record as a criminal offense, it is a serious red flag to your car insurance company. Most insurers will charge more for the policy to cover the added risk posed by a driver with this kind of criminal driving history.
Similar to those with a reckless driving or DUI conviction the list of insurance companies that will take on a driver with a road rage criminal offense goes down dramatically often forcing driver into a nonstandard carrier where the costs can be double, if not triple current rates.
Generally insurance is designed to cover accidents, not intentional acts. Meaning, if you intentionally rear-end or sideswipe someone because of road rage coverage would be in serious question. Insurance carriers operate under a reservation of rights that if you are found guilty of road rage, it changes the schematics of the event and could put you responsible out-of-pocket.
The ‘he started it’ defense is not a legitimate case against intentional road rage. Even if you didn’t initiate the road rage, but found 50% at fault you can be charged all the same. Moreover, if the other persons’ insurance deems the accident intentional and does not cover costs, your insurance may follow suite if you’ve contributed with intent.
Here at Texan Insurance we want to keep your insurance rates low and our great state of Texas safe for all! Help out by driving safely and calmly. Happy commuting!
- http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insurance/the-costly-risks-of-road-rage-2.aspx
- http://www.alertdriving.com/home/fleet-alert-magazine/north-america/cities-worst-road-rage