According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), when motorists drive aggressively it increases their chances of being involved in a road rage incident. “We receive complaints from the public on a regular basis about road rage,” OPP Capt. Kerry Schmidt said. “Usually it’s someone driving inappropriately, whether it’s tailgating or trying to bait someone into an argument with another driver,” Schmidt said. My Choice, an insurance comparison website, has just looked at the driving behaviors most likely to lead to a road rage incident. Aggressive driving offenses – which could lead to an altercation with another driver – include speeding, failure to stop, failure to signal, improper lane change, improper passing, following too closely and distracted driving or use of a hand-held device. “You’re never going to walk away from a rage incident and say, ‘That was a great idea, I’m glad I said something,’” said My Choice CEO Aren Mirzaian. My Choice also looked at the top 10 cities in Ontario with the most aggressive driving offences. Number one was North York, followed by Hamilton, Brampton, Mississauga, Scarborough, Brantford, Etobicoke, Toronto, Kitchener and London. If you get even one ticket for a driving violation, your insurance may increase. “Your insurance could go up by as much as 5 to 10 percent, and on your second offense, it could go up another 10 to 15 percent, and if you get more tickets, your license could be suspended,” said Mirzayan. Another reason to slow down is that winter has arrived. “Share the road and if someone wants to pass you, let them pass and drive in a way that doesn’t cause stress, anxiety and frustration to other people you share the road with,” Schmidt said. Last year, 315 people died on Ontario roads and 81 deaths were related to high-speed crashes and aggressive driving.
