The death of 44-year-old mother of four Tammy Meyers in Las Vegas on Valentine’s Day after an apparent road rage incident is the latest tragedy to challenge the adage: “An armed society is a polite society.” Meyers was driving home after giving her daughter a driving lesson when she exchanged words with another driver, who was apparently annoyed she was only driving the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour.
Armed, that driver allegedly followed her home, where police say Meyer’s son confronted the other driver with his own gun and, reports indicate, opened fire upon seeing the driver’s gun. The driver also fired, authorities said. Now, Meyers is dead and the other driver is still at large.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving. Over one-third (37%) of aggressive driving incidents involve a firearm, according to research for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Research also indicates that aggressive or risky drivers are more likely than safer drivers: they’re young, male, have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, have received driving citations (for moving and non-moving violations), score higher on measures of aggression and psychiatric morbidity, use illicit drugs, drive more miles per day, drive in denser traffic more often, abuse alcohol, have higher levels of stress, and be more likely to attribute blame to other drivers.
–
Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.
Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.
