MIRAMAR, Fla. – A man recorded a video of a road rage incident involving a motorcyclist who authorities are searching for.
The confrontation on Monday was between the driver of a car and a motorcyclist in Broward County. There were racial slurs.
The driver, who was the victim, said he noticed the motorcyclist when lines merged at the westbound Turnpike extension.
”He said I blew him off the road but he was behind another car when I merged and got over on the lane, so he blew past that car and then he caught up to me and slapped my mirror,” the driver said.
After the contact, the driver said he stopped near Riviera Boulevard and University Drive to assess the damage and the motorcyclist pulled up behind him and assaulted him.
“He got on his bike, sped off, stopped at my car on the passenger side, and broke the mirror off,” the driver said.
The driver said he regrets stopping and getting out of his car instead of waiting to get somewhere safe.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded and were working to identify that motorcyclist. The driver reported that fixing the damage cost him about $2,000.
According to the AAA Foundation, a study showed that out of about 10,000 road rage incidents in seven years, 218 were deadly and 12,610 resulted in injuries.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
Tips for safe driving
- “Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you”
- “If you believe the other driver is following you or is trying to start a fight, get help.”
- “Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.”
- Stay away from “high-anger drivers” who “are more likely to go 10 to 20 mph over the speed limit, rapidly switch lanes, tailgate, and enter an intersection when the light turns red.”
- “Keep your hands on the wheel. Avoid making any gestures that might anger another driver, even ... expressions of irritation like shaking your head.”
- “Signal every time you merge or change lanes, and whenever you turn.”
- " If you and another driver see a parking space at the same time, let that person have it.”
- “When you merge, make sure you have plenty of room. Use your turn signal to show your intentions before making a move.”
- “Allow at least a two-second space between your car and the car ahead.”
- “Instead of trying to make good time, try to make time good. Listen to soothing music.”
- ”You can protect yourself against aggressive drivers by refusing to become angry at them.”
Sources: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AAA, and American Psychological Association