BATON ROUGE — Louisiana continues to lead the nation in road rage, and the Baton Rouge area has seen multiple deadly shootings that began as possible road rage incidents. One of the latest shootings, which happened in mid-February, left a man dead and a woman wounded, appears to have stemmed from road rage.
Road rage has become a regular part of driving, whether from the emotions drivers experience or the aggressive actions of others on the road. Louisiana has ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for road rage for two consecutive years, according to Consumer Affairs.
More than 60% of Americans say aggressive driving has become a “major problem” in their communities, according to a Pew Research Center study. This behavior includes speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and running red lights.
Half of the states with the highest road rage rankings are located in the western U.S. New Mexico was second highest on the list for most road rage, followed by Colorado.
Louisiana leads road rage rankings
According to the report, nearly 60% of Louisiana’s fatal crashes and other traffic deaths were linked to aggressive or careless driving. These rates were the highest nationwide.
Louisiana also has the highest overall rate of fatal crashes and deaths involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 people. Consumer Affairs also reports the state has the second-highest rate of traffic violations tied to aggressive or careless driving or speeding.
In an incident in Baton Rouge on Feb. 15, a man and a woman were shot after their vehicle was allegedly struck by another driver, who fled. According to Baton Rouge Police, the victim followed the driver and the shooting occurred soon after, leaving the 43-year-old man dead and his female passenger wounded.
At this time, investigators believe this is a road rage incident. It is one of many violent cases connected to aggressive or careless driving.
In August last year, a 17-year-old named Katelynn Strate died after the driver of another vehicle fired shots into the SUV she was a passenger in.
Tangipahoa Parish investigators say the suspect, Barry West, drove up behind the SUV in a pickup truck, and the two vehicles started tailgating and brake-checking each other. Then West allegedly shot one round into the SUV, which struck Strate in the head.
Strate was pregnant at the time, and doctors delivered her baby via C-section. Strate died of her injuries.
Louisiana’s most recent road rage stats from Consumer Affairs:
- Traffic incidents involving gun violence: 0.48 per 100,000 people
- Traffic violations issued for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 1 per 100,000 people
- Fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 9.31 per 100,000 people
- Accounted for 57% of all fatal crashes in the state in 2023
- Number of fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 10.17 per 100,000 people
- Accounted for 58% of all traffic fatalities in the state in 2023
READ MORE ‘Senseless tragedy’: Road rage shooting leaves pregnant 17-year-old fatally wounded, baby survives
READ MORE “They riddled my truck with bullets” | Road rage victim recovering after shooting
READ MORE Ascension deputies investigating Sunday interstate ‘road rage’ shooting
Tips for handling road rage incidents
Consumer Affairs offered some tips for handling the high emotions that often come when behind the wheel. Preparing for driving often begins before you leave the house.
- Prepare & Reframe your Mindset: If driving and traffic get you feeling tense, reframe your mindset. Consider driving to or from work as an opportunity to listen to a podcast or audiobook, for example. Leave with plenty of time to arrive to your destination without rushing.
- Stay calm: Use grounding techniques like focusing on taking deep breaths, paying attention to the music on your radio, or a five-senses check-in.
- Distance yourself from aggressive drivers: Stay away from drivers who are acting aggressively and put plenty of space between you and other drivers on the road. Slow down or exit the road if necessary, and if the other driver is continuing to escalate, call for help or drive to a public area like a police station.
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