PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona’s Family sat down with former Phoenix Police Det. Darren Burch to get his take on why the Valley is seeing so many instances of road rage lately.
He said when people are on edge and stressed out about things going on in their life, it doesn’t take much for them to lose their temper and lash out.
“It doesn’t have to be somebody already in the criminal system, it could be just a normal person that’s just having a really bad time in their life,” said Burch. “Stress keeps building, building, building and then they are in what might be a normal situation, someone cuts them off and they lose it, and all of a sudden become violent and outraged and that’s road rage.”
Forensic psychologist Erin Nelson said a lot of people these days, are dealing with anger and anxiety, stemming from their jobs, finances, relationships and the hostility they see on social media about their community and what’s going on across the country.
Nelson explained when they get behind the wheel they are often on edge and prone to making bad decisions.
“That wouldn’t be a direct transition to ‘I am going to shoot the person in the car next to me,’ or ‘I am going to provoke somebody’ but you’re operating from a place of having all that on-board,” said Nelson. “It is more important than ever, whether it’s on the road, or in a bar or restaurant or athletic event that we do two things, give people grace rather than respond with immediate anger.”
Recently, a man was caught on video in central Phoenix, physically assaulting another driver. Meanwhile, a confrontation on the road in front of a Starbucks near the Arizona’s Family studios ended with another driver being shot and killed Saturday.
Then it happened again Wednesday morning. A driver was shot in the leg along Interstate 10, also appearing to be linked to road rage, but detectives are still working on determining a motive.
Nelson suggests drivers not to engage with those who appear angry or hostile, and that it’s a good idea to have more patience behind the wheel.
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