If it hasn’t occurred to you yet, a motor vehicle is considered a deadly weapon in Tennessee and most every other state. Using a vehicle for any other purpose other than getting from one place to another can lead to serious consequences.

Reference a recent road rage incident in Johnson City in which a , 32-year-old man was charged with domestic aggravated assault and violating an order of protection. The police report stated that a 27-year-old woman called police to report a man banging on her door at 8:30 in the morning, demanding to see his kids.

As he was leaving, the woman went to the parking lot to get his license plate number. He saw her and ran her down. Several witnesses saw the incident and gave statements to the police. The man turned himself into police the following morning and is now jailed under a bond of $50,000.00 on charges of domestic aggravated assault and violating an order of protection.

Road rage differs from aggressive driving. It is a criminal offense and is an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or is caused by an incident that occurred on a roadway.

I would encourage each driver who ventures out onto the highways and byways of Tennessee to arm themselves with the telephone number of the appropriate law enforcement agency, either 911 or *847 for State Troopers and when you witness an aggressive driver, pull over to a safe place and call in the license number, description of the vehicle and any other specifics that you observed. Save a life and tell all of your friends and families to step up and help reduce traffic fatalities in Tennessee.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by an aggressive or raging driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out all about your rights and remedies.

Road Rage Is A Crime

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as, “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”  Road rage differs from aggressive driving. It is a criminal offense and is an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or is caused by an incident that occurred on a roadway.

A good example of road rage became public last week in Johnson City, Tennessee when a Kodak man got into an argument with two people in a city bar, followed them when they left and rammed his car into them numerous times, finally causing them to spin out of control and strike another car.

Of course, after this guy acts the fool and leaves people injured and in need of care, he runs off and hides. You can imagine the good thinking going on with this fellow, he knew the people he wrecked. He hid out for several days until the police ran him down. He’s now in jail where he belongs.

This is a good example of a situation where a bit of creative judgment is called for. No matter what sort of jail time he gets for this dangerous behavior, and the time needs to be serious, after he is released he should be barred from operating a motor vehicle and from frequenting places that sell alcohol for a period of years.

The public also plays a role in making roadways safer.  If you’re a witness to, or victim of road rage or any other form of aggressive driving, report it by dialing *847 or 911.  Never retaliate or react in a manner that causes more danger. Slow down and let the other driver pass.  When it’s safe to use your cell phone, call and provide them with your location, a description of the vehicle and details regarding the aggressive driving behavior.

If you or a loved one is involved in a Tennessee automobile accident involving an aggressive or  road rage driver it is critical that you contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out about your rights and remedies.

Road Rage Is A Crime

As an experienced Tennessee car accident lawyer, I regularly witness the role of aggressive drivers in many Tennessee car accidents. Statistics suggest that as many as one third of traffic crashes resulting in death can be attributed to aggressive driving and two-thirds of resulting deaths can be attributed to aggressive driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  defines aggressive driving as “the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner which endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.” Some of the most common actions considered aggressive include:

* Speeding

* Red light running

* Failure to yield

* Following too closely

* Unsafe lane changes

* Failure to obey traffic control devices

* Failure to use proper signals

* Improper passing

Road rage differs from aggressive driving. It is a criminal offense and is an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or is caused by an incident that occurred on a roadway.

A case out of Johnson City, Tennessee makes clear the difference between these two equally despicable actions. A man and a woman told police that a man followed them onto I-26 westbound after having a dispute at Numan’s, a local nightclub. The couple told police the man rammed them from behind at least twice on the interstate. The driver told police he was sure it was the man with whom he had the dispute because he could see his face clearly in the rearview mirror.

The police will find this guy, he’ll brag about it, or someone he has bullied in the past is going to drop a dime on him. Highway traffic safety and law enforcement experts suggest that if you are set upon by a road rager, call the police immediately, give them your location and a description of the vehicle and or the person and then try to drive to a busy place where there are plenty of witnesses. Tell the police dispatcher where you are going.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident by an aggressive driver, contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and get a complete picture of your rights and remedies.

Aggressive Driving or Road Rage?

As law enforcement agencies develop their programs, they should define aggressive driving based on their state laws, customs and practices by the agency, and by the public’s understanding.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as, “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” Some other communities define aggressive driving as “the operation of a motor vehicle involving three or more moving violations as part of a single continuous sequence of driving acts, which is likely to endanger any person or property.”

To avoid conflict with the term road rage, departments should clearly identify that issue and train their officers to use the correct terminology during the program as well as during traffic stops and public information opportunities. Road rage differs from aggressive driving. It is a criminal offense and is “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or is caused by an incident that occurred on a roadway.”

Some behaviors typically associated with aggressive driving include: exceeding the posted speed limit, following too closely, erratic or unsafe lane changes, improperly signaling lane changes, failure to obey traffic control devices (stop signs, yield signs, traffic signals, railroad grade cross signals, etc.). Law enforcement agencies should include red light running as part of their definition of aggressive driving. NHTSA calls the act of red light running as one of the most dangerous forms of aggressive driving.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car accident caused by an aggressive driver, contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates.

Drop a Dime on a Bad Driver

As an experienced Tennessee auto accident attorney I often suggest to my clients and readers that they make good use of their cell phones when they see a problem driver on the highway. If you see someone who drives as if they were drunk, an aggressive driver, or a road rage incident, get the tag number and description of the car, pull over and call 911 in urban areas and *847 in rural areas for the State Troopers and report what you saw.

Reference a recent incident in Rogersville Tennessee reported in local news media where a citizen reported a woman at a filling station who appeared to be drunk and had had a small child in the vehicle. Police responded and indeed, she was under the influence, in the drivers seat with the keys in the ignition. She failed the field sobriety tests and submitted to a blood test.

There’s no telling whether the called saved the life of the child or some other innocent driver, but keep in mind that drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In Tennessee in 2008, 327 people were killed in crashes where the driver or motorcyclist had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

If you or a loved one is involved in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a drunk driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Road Rage Fatality

Tennessee State Troopers felt the evidence supported the charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, and felony reckless endangerment were appropriate following a fatal collision in Greene County, Tennessee. Jackie Ricker, a 19-year-old woman was killed after she was intentionally wrecked by Jeffrey Brian-Edward Wills, a 21-year-old male, I wouldn’t call him a man. Her two passengers were injured and taken to a local hospital. We are not aware of the motive for his homicide. My prayers go out to the family and friends of this young woman.

As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney I can tell you that there is an ominous trend developing on the highways and byways of Tennessee. Road rage, unlike aggressive driving, is a criminal offense. This occurs when a traffic incident escalates into a far more serious situation. For example, a person may become so angry over an aggressive driving incident that he or she overreacts and retaliates with some type of violence. These violent acts may range from a physical confrontation to an assault with a motor vehicle or possibly a weapon.

Often, the roadway incident that caused the person to become enraged may have been something quite simple and even trivial. Some incidents, by their very nature, are intentional acts, such as when a motorist switches from lane to lane in an effort to go around other vehicles. But others may have been committed unintentionally, such as when a motorist makes an abrupt exit from a roadway without properly signaling his or her intent. Perhaps you have seen this maneuver or even done it yourself when you suddenly realized you were at your exit.

Many road rage incidents have resulted from drivers overreacting and allowing their egos to stand in the way of common sense and good judgment rather than safely reporting aggressive driving incidents. A simple display of common courtesy will often be appreciated and may even become contagious. Try it! It might work for you.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by an aggressive or raging driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out all about your rights and remedies.

Put Your Ego On Hold

Could there have been a different outcome to a road rage incident that left a Memphis Tennessee man shot to death in front of his family? Probably so, but hindsight is always 20-20. The shooter, a 63-year-old man is on trial for 2^nd Degree murder following an incident in a parking lot that began when the men parked too close to each other. The man testified that victim was actually not the victim and that he was angry, cursing and threatening to kill the couple. The man on trial claims that the shooting was in self-defense. My prayers go out to both families to this tragic incident.

Road rage, unlike aggressive driving, is a criminal offense. This occurs when a traffic incident escalates into a far more serious situation. For example, a person may become so angry over an aggressive driving incident that he or she overreacts and retaliates with some type of violence. These violent acts may range from a physical confrontation to an assault with a motor vehicle or possibly a weapon.

Often, the roadway incident that caused the person to become enraged may have been something quite simple and even trivial. Some incidents, by their very nature, are intentional acts, such as when a motorist switches from lane to lane in an effort to go around other vehicles. But others may have been committed unintentionally, such as when a motorist makes an abrupt exit from a roadway without properly signaling his or her intent. Perhaps you have seen this maneuver or even done it yourself when you suddenly realized you were at your exit.

Many road rage incidents have resulted from drivers overreacting and allowing their egos to stand in the way of common sense and good judgment rather than safely reporting aggressive driving incidents. As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney I an tell you that a simple display of common courtesy will often be appreciated and may even become contagious. Try it! It might work for you.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by an aggressive or raging driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out all about your rights and remedies.

Road rage is a phenominum that is increasing in our country and one that threatens the safety of every driver on the road. As an experienced Tennessee Automobile accident attorney I think it fair to say that road rage is a term that can refer to any act of direct aggression by a vehicle driver toward another. A better definition of road rage might best refer to extreme acts of aggression, such as physical assault, that follows a direct disagreement between drivers. I read somewhere that there are between 1000 and 1500 road rage deaths per year in the United States. Aggressive driving is a traffic offense, road rage is a criminal act.

Aggressive tailgating seems to be the most common form of road rage, followed by flashing headlights, obscene gestures, deliberately obstructing other vehicles, verbal abuse and finally physical assault, either with the vehicle or direct hand-to-hand fighting.

If you’re a victim of road rage or any other form of aggressive driving, report it by dialing *THP (*847).  Never retaliate or react in a manner that causes more danger. Slow down and let the other driver pass.  When it’s safe to use your cell phone, call *THP and provide them with your location, a description of the vehicle and details regarding the aggressive driving behavior.

If you’re being hassled by another driver;

* Try not to react. Avoid making eye contact, as this is often seen as confrontational.

* Don’t be tempted to accelerate, brake, or swerve suddenly; again, this may be seen as confrontational and increases your chances of losing control of your vehicle.

* If a driver continues to hassle you or you think you are being followed, call 911 and ask for assistance and drive on to the nearest police station or busy place.

*When stopped in traffic, leave enough space to pull out from behind the car you are following.

*If someone tries to get into your car, attract attention by sounding your horn or a personal alarm.

*Do not be tempted to start a fight and do not be tempted to brandish any sort of weapon. It may only provoke a potential assailant and could end up in his or her hands.

If you are the victim of a Nashville or Tennessee automobile road rage accident we urge you to contact our car accident attorneys today for a free consultation. When you hire an auto accident attorney from Phillip Miller & Associates, you’re getting a qualified and dedicated lawyer.

Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

As an experienced Tennessee Automobile accident attorney I often find myself discussing different aspects of highway safety and the problems that drivers face and cause as the cruise the highways. Many times I hear people mix up aggressive driving with road rage when in fact they are two very different things although they have common elements. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of another motor vehicle precipitated by an incident that occurred on a roadway.”

Aggressive driving on the other hand includes behavior such as speeding, tailgating, running red lights or stop signs, and weaving in and out of traffic. It is estimated that aggressive driving costs the economy more than $40.4 billion a year, not to mention thousands of fatalities. We have all seen them, these aggressive drivers, they ride on peoples bumpers to force them out of the way, they weave in and out of traffic, their sense of self-importance worn on their sleeves for the world to see.

Today, in my blog,  I’ll address the problem of aggressive driving. Aggressive driving behavior typically increases during the summer months, and the only way to put the brakes on it is to use a multi-pronged approach. Three states have been using this approach for several years now and have shown significant results. Maryland alone issued 205,062 tickets during the 2008 campaign, and the number of fatalities for aggressive driving was reduced. In Virginia, 98,474 tickets were issued and in Pennsylvania, 88,302.  These states used technology to identify those areas where aggressive driving was a particular problem and they then enlisted the cooperation of local and county law enforcement agencies and stepped up a concerted enforcement policy that followed a creative public education program.

For the second summer in a row the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will intensify its enforcement efforts aimed at aggressive drivers with it’s program, “100 Days of Summer HEAT” enforcement campaign. All summer long Troopers statewide will put the brakes on speeding motorists, impaired drivers and those not buckled up properly.

If you witness aggressive driving identify the vehicle (color, make and plate number if possible) and then pull over at the next safe place and call the THP (*847) or your local police (911)and report them. Taking a minute to make the call might mean that someone down the line will live on the make it home to see their families. If you or a family member or friend is injured or killed in a Tennessee traffic accident by an aggressive driver call the experienced Tennessee accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Road Rage In Tennessee

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney I can tell you that taking a walk, even on a sidewalk, requires one to stay alert for all sorts of traffic hazards. According to a number of studies, in the last 15 years, more than 76,000 Americans have been killed while crossing or walking along a street in their community. More than 43,000 Americans, including 3,906 children under 16 have been killed this decade alone. This is the equivalent of a jumbo jet going down roughly every month, yet it receives nothing like the kind of attention that would surely follow such a disaster.

Reference an incident the other day in Murphreesboro, Tennessee in which a pedestrian crossing the street was almost run down by a motor vehicle. When the pedestrian yelled at the driver to slow down, the driver backed up, got out of the car, pulled a pistol and threatened the pedestrian. After some threats the gunman got into his car and drove away.

This incident brings into focus the difference between aggressive driving and road rage. Aggressive driving is a traffic offense or combination of offenses such as following too closely, speeding, unsafe lane changes, failing to signal intent to change lanes, and other forms of negligent or inconsiderate driving. , on the other hand, Road rage is a criminal offense. This occurs when a traffic incident escalates into a far more serious situation.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee car accident involving an aggressive driver or a road rager, contact the experienced Nashville auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.