Road Rage Crackdown

Sunday, February 11th 2007, 5:27 pm

By: News On 6

The Oklahoma Highway is cracking down on road rage. Troopers will be out in force this week looking for aggressive drivers. News on 6 reporter Chris Wright reports on why the OHP wants to curb road rage drivers.

More than 1,500 people are killed or injured in road rage accidents every year across the country, and the Highway Patrol says they are seeing more incidents here in Oklahoma. In an effort to reduce road rage, Tulsa Troopers have coordinated a special enforcement effort this week. On Monday and Tuesday, they will keep an eye out for aggressive drivers, focusing on Interstate-44 during rush hour. The OHP says that time of day, when there is traffic and people tend to be in a rush, is when they see the most incidents of road rage.

If you do come across someone driving too aggressively, Troopers recommend you simply get out of their way.

"Don't look at them, they pull up next to you and try to get your attention a lot of times, just ignore them, slow down and let them by,â€ Trooper Larry Chambliss said. â€œIt's not worth getting into a fight over. If they're that mad, there's no telling what could happen."

Trooper Chambliss says incidents of road rage tend to happen very quickly, so it is difficult to catch people in the act. That is why anyone who sees something is encouraged to report it, you can contact the Oklahoma Highway Patrol by dialing *55 on your cell phone.