Road Rage Test: The Dangers of Anger

Swedish record producer and rapper, David Jassy has been found guilty of second-degree murder after killing a pedestrian in a road rage incident last November 2008.

Ironically, the victim, 55-year old jazz pianist John Osnes, was a pedestrian rights advocate. According to several statements from the witnesses, the road altercation started when Osnes slammed his hands against the front of Jassy’s rented SUV when it edged into a Hollywood crosswalk.

Reports indicate that 35-year old Jassy flew into a rage and punched, kicked and ran over Osnes with his SUV. Osnes was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Jassy’s bail was set at 1 million dollars as he was considered a flight risk by the court. He is set to face 15 years to life at a sentencing next month.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), road rage which is a form of aggressive driving, involves a criminal act of violence. It includes: deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, excessive tailgating, verbal abuse and shouting, speeding or racing the other car, making rude gestures, throwing projectiles at the other car, and waving a gun, among others.

In an American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation study, there are 1,200 incidents of road rage in the US yearly and the number continues to rise annually.

Road rage and aggressive driving is usually triggered by crowded roads and sometimes, when drivers rush or get impatient, tempers flare up which may cause them to react angrily to one another. But in some instances of road rage, the anger is so extreme that some drivers would go to the extent of using their cars as a weapon.

As much as more than 60 percent of Americans aged 18-22 years old admitted to losing their temper while driving but are you one of those, like Jassy, who is at risk for extreme road rage?

Here is a link to a road rage exam to find out if you are a road rage risk:

http://www.aipsnews.com/rurrageous.htm

It is best to remember that the word “ANGER” is just one letter short of “DANGER”.

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