Tigard Officer Offers Tips To Avoid Road Rage

TIGARD, OR — Tigard police traffic safety veteran Nelson Massey has reportedly seen an increase in aggressive driving and road rage incidents in recent years that appear to correspond with increased traffic congestion and cases of distracted driving in the city. In a post on the city of Tigard's website, Traffic Safety Officer Massey recently shared his observations from patrolling Tigard's streets.

From tailgating and physical altercations to drivers throwing food at one another and even pulling firearms from their vehicles, Massey has reportedly seen quite a lot. Often, Massey said, tensions escalate between drivers when there's a perception that they've been victimized by someone trying to get around delays or traffic control devices in ways that do not adhere to social road-sharing decorum.

“People try to maneuver around traffic, using the shoulder and turn lanes as a passing lane, which angers people,” Massey said in the post. “We’ve had drivers side swipe each (other) when one is jockeying for the same lane and the other driver tries to keep the other person out.”

Because there's no criminal code for "road rage," Tigard police spokesman Jim Wolf said Massey and other traffic officers must contextualize charges for crimes such as reckless driving, harassment, or disorderly conduct based on the totality of circumstances surrounding those crimes and charges.

Because of that, Wolf admitted law enforcement faces a challenge when asked to support the assertion that road rage incidents have increased.

To be clear, drivers are never charged with road rage. However, an altercation between drivers can colloquially be defined as road rage depending on the circumstances that led to the altercation.

(Sign up for our free daily newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Lake Oswego Patch)

"Yes, likely without any uncertainty, road rage, or however it may be identified, has increased," Wolf said, adding, "I believe it would be beneficial to keep in mind the (post) was written based upon the perspective of a veteran motorcycle traffic safety officer who is on the road daily."

Massey's post, despite lacking actual data, still offers insight and perspective for drivers who may feel the pangs of frustration while commuting through the city and greater Portland metro region — especially with all the summer construction going on.

Massey offered the following suggestions for drivers to help themselves and each other remain safe on the road:

• Focus on the road and avoid distractions such as cell phone use;
• Allow ample time to reach your destination. When you’re pressed for time, your stress level may increase, leading to more aggressive tactics and intolerance of others;
• If you find yourself reacting to drivers on the road, try to calm down by taking slow, deep breaths or listening to soothing music. Anger can impact attention, reasoning and judgement, which impairs driving;
• Don’t personalize isolated driving offenses. In some cases, a driver may be having a bad day or simply making a mistake;
• Permit drivers to enter your lane when they signal to change lanes. Massey finds that drivers become territorial and crowd out others trying to get in, which exacerbates tensions;
• If you suspect that you cut someone off, a simple wave indicating the error often defuses a situation; and
• If someone is tailgating, don’t “brake check” the offender. Officer Massey has responded to crashes resulting from drivers abruptly braking in retaliation for tailgating. On roads where it’s safe to do so, consider pulling over for the driver to pass.

If a situation escalates out of your control, Massey suggests the following:

• When encountering a driver yelling at you, making vulgar gestures or acting aggressively, don’t engage. In many cases, the person will leave you alone;
• Call 911 when someone’s driving or behavior is a threat to safety;
• If there is traffic and you are being harassed, leave enough room between you and the next car so that you are not trapped; and
• If a driver is following you, go to a busy commercial area or police station where you can get help. In this case you would want to keep driving until reaching a safe point.

Image via City of Tigard