PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Arizona\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
He said when people are on edge and stressed out about things going on in their life, it doesn\u2019t take much for them to lose their temper and lash out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be somebody already in the criminal system, it could be just a normal person that\u2019s just having a really bad time in their life,\u201d said Burch. \u201cStress 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\u2019s road rage.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s going on across the country.<\/p>\n
Nelson explained when they get behind the wheel they are often on edge and prone to making bad decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat wouldn\u2019t be a direct transition to \u2018I am going to shoot the person in the car next to me,\u2019 or \u2018I am going to provoke somebody\u2019 but you\u2019re operating from a place of having all that on-board,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cIt is more important than ever, whether it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s Family studios<\/a> ended with another driver being shot and killed Saturday. <\/p>\n Then it happened again Wednesday morning. A driver was shot in the leg along Interstate 10<\/a>, also appearing to be linked to road rage, but detectives are still working on determining a motive. <\/p>\n Nelson suggests drivers not to engage with those who appear angry or hostile, and that it\u2019s a good idea to have more patience behind the wheel.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n