A man shares his personal experience with road rage in St. Louis and sheds light on the prevalent issue in the area. Learn more about the dangers of aggressive driving and the impact it has on everyday life.
Image by Joshua Wordel
I heard a loud bang, then the next thing I knew, I was lying up in a hospital bed, with a quarter sized stitch to my shoulders and my wife crying with hysteria. The doctor assured her that the bullet hit my shoulders, and went across the driver seat of my BMW X5. Therefore, I would live another day to drive down the treacherous Interstate 64 in St. Louis county.
It was warm summer morning, I was heading to the gym, and later grab me some shaving cream at Brentwood Promenande. As I missed my turn, I obviliously circled back, then later I heard this Caucausian male screaming vulgarity, and honking his horn as if he was a god of the road. Apologetically, I’d honestly realized that I had cut him off, but not intentionally.
Nontheless, as a middle-class black married man with teen children, I try not to be confrontational with these road rage idiots. I have seen in the news about how the drivers are in St. Charles County with road rage fatalities. So, I ignored him and tried to say “My Bad.”
Furthermore, apologizing to an angry person, only insults them. And that is exactly what happened. I parked my car, and before I could remove my keys and seatbelt, the bullets came flying. He shot me, and droved away. But he was caught due to cameras, after he turned himself in.
Final thoughts:
This story is happening everyday, of course Argus changed the scenario to protect the victim. However, I was thankful for this man for sharing his story with us. I am so sorry to say, the St. Louis metropolitan area has a problem with road rage. I hate to say it, some of St. Louis’ drivers are very aggressive.
Last year, I was involved in an road rage incident, however it didn’t turn tragic, maybe because the driver didn’t have a gun. Whatever the case may be, if you ever get into a situation on the road, with these crazy drivers, try to get out of their way, and don’t fuel the fire. Stay safe.
There are a few reasons why there are so many road rages:
1. Stress and frustration: Driving can be a stressful experience, especially in heavy traffic or when running late. This can lead to drivers feeling frustrated and angry, making them more likely to lash out and exhibit road rage.
2. Feeling of anonymity: When people are behind the wheel, they may feel a sense of anonymity and invincibility. This can make them behave in ways they normally wouldn’t, such as engaging in road rage.
3. Poor driving habits: Some people have poor driving habits, such as tailgating, not using turn signals, or cutting off other drivers. These behaviors can easily trigger road rage in others.
4. Aggressive personalities: People who are naturally aggressive or have a short temper may be more likely to exhibit road rage while driving.
5. Lack of consequences: In many cases, road rage incidents go unpunished. This lack of consequences may encourage some drivers to continue engaging in aggressive and dangerous behaviors.
6. Traffic congestion: Cities and urban areas often have heavy traffic congestion, causing frustration and impatience among drivers. This can contribute to the likelihood of road rage incidents.
7. Substance abuse: People under the influence of drugs or alcohol may have impaired judgment and be more prone to aggressive behavior, including road rage.
8. Personal issues: Drivers may be dealing with personal issues or stress that can affect their behavior on the road.
In closing, it is important for drivers to remain calm and practice safe and defensive driving to avoid contributing to road rage incidents. It is also crucial for law enforcement to address and penalize aggressive driving behavior to deter others from engaging in road rage.
Road rage incidents in MO:
1. In January 2020, a man intentionally ran over a woman in a road rage incident on Interstate 70 in St. Louis. The woman suffered serious injuries and the man was later charged with assault.
2. In August 2019, a 20-year-old woman was shot and killed in a road rage incident on Interstate 170 in St. Louis. The shooter was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
3. In June 2018, a man was shot and killed in a road rage incident on Interstate 55 in St. Louis. The suspect fled the scene and was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
4. In June 2017, a man was stabbed multiple times in a road rage incident in Kansas City. The suspect was arrested and charged with assault.
5. In November 2016, a woman was shot and killed in a road rage incident on Interstate 270 in St. Louis. The shooter was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
6. In July 2015, a man was killed in a road rage incident in St. Louis. The victim was driving a pickup truck that was chased and intentionally hit by another driver, causing it to crash and catch fire. The suspect was charged with murder.
7. In August 2014, a man was shot and killed in a road rage incident on Interstate 435 in Kansas City. The suspect was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
8. In December 2013, a man was shot and killed in a road rage incident on Interstate 70 in St. Louis. The suspect was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
9. In June 2012, a man was shot and injured in a road rage incident on Interstate 64 in St. Louis. The suspect was arrested and charged with assault.
10. In September 2011, a man was stabbed multiple times in a road rage incident in St. Louis. The suspect was arrested and charged with assault.
Please stay safe as we get to the winter months, and watch out for these aggressive drivers…Argus Staff…
road rage, St. Louis, aggressive driving, traffic safety, personal story, victim
#RoadRage #StLouis #AggressiveDriving #TrafficSafety #PersonalStory #Victim
