Atlanta drivers on high alert as road rage incidents increase

ATLANTA — Drivers across metro Atlanta are concerned about their safety after more and more innocent drivers become the victims of road rage incidents.

More than a dozen shootings in the city just this year leave many asking, “How do we keep our roads safe?”

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington reached out to the Georgia State Patrol who says road rage incidents are on the rise in metro Atlanta, and they’re working overtime to combat it.

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The Atlanta Police Department said they have responded to 13 road rage incidents since the beginning of the year, most of which involved gunfire.

Sergeant Jay Trawick with GSP said there are things other drivers can do to safely avoid a road rage incident.

“The best reaction is not to react at all, because there are people who will attempt to goad you into a situation that you don’t want to be in,” said Sgt. Trawick.

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Clinical psychologist, Dr. Rebecca Osei says it’s important for people to stay calm and to have compassion for those drivers in a rage.

“These are not people who’ve gone off every single time someone has cut them off. It’s that a number of circumstances collided to this perfect storm,” she told Washington.

“You can’t lose your control when you’re driving. You’re driving a weapon. It doesn’t matter if someone displays a gun or a knife or a rifle. The vehicle that you are in control of is a weapon,” Sgt. Trawick said.

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GSP adds that they will keep a closer eye out for signs of road rage like speeding up and slowing down, cutting off or constant honking.

This added patrol is going to be in place, especially as we move closer to the holiday weekend.

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