Nov. 5 – An apparent roadside shooting in Decatur early Sunday is the latest in a growing trend of such incidents across the country.
Between 2014 and 2023, traffic incidents involving firearms in the U.S. more than doubled, and the number of people killed or injured increased more than 400%, according to data collected by the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive and analyzed by The Trace. , a nonprofit news channel that focuses on gun violence.
Locally, a motorcyclist remained in critical condition at UAB Hospital on Monday after Decatur police said the motorcyclist and another person became involved in an apparent road rage incident while driving south on Sixth Avenue Southeast shortly after 1 a.m.
According to Decatur police, a man was arrested at the scene for questioning and subsequently released. She said the investigation’s findings will be submitted to the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office.
A 2023 Forbes survey of 10,000 licensed drivers – at least 200 in each state – found that Alabama ranked sixth for the number of most confrontational drivers. The study measured reactions using nine metrics, such as the percentage of drivers who felt like they were being forced off the road. Alabama’s 2024 ranking dropped to 41.
According to the 2024 survey, nationally, 41% of drivers witnessed an act of road rage, 32% experienced road rage from another driver, and 22% experienced road rage themselves.
“It’s probably safe to say the trend is increasing because when you look at what’s causing it, the biggest thing is that people are so impatient and don’t handle stress well,” said Rhonda Stricklin, senior transportation research engineer at the Alabama Transportation Institute. at the University of Alabama. “And I think people are becoming more impatient in general.”
According to Stricklin, collecting data on road rage can be difficult because researchers must collect the data from different sources.
Stricklin said men are more likely to experience road rage than women, and that road rage is more likely in areas with heavy traffic congestion or when there is a traffic jam due to construction or an accident.
Peer-reviewed scientific studies show that the mere presence of a firearm can increase testosterone levels and aggression in men. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology examined the behavior of participants who drove with a gun in their vehicle versus participants who drove with a tennis racket. Participants with weapons drove more aggressively.
According to data analyzed by The Trace, Alabama had six roadside shootings in 2023, up from nine in 2022. A look at local headlines suggests the 2024 numbers will see at least a few shootings from north Alabama.
Two Hazel Green high school students who were on their way home after taking pictures at home were shot twice during a road rage incident on Oct. 19, according to WAFF 48.
The alleged perpetrator, Donnie Kent, faces two charges in Madison County of discharging a gun into an occupied vehicle, each a class B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
In May, Joseph McAlpin was arrested after Decatur police said he shot into an occupied vehicle near the Walmart Supercenter following a traffic accident on Beltline Road. McAlpin is free as the case awaits hearing by a Morgan County grand jury.
In February, officers with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apparent road rage incident involving shots fired from a vehicle on Interstate 65. The driver, a fugitive from Michigan, led officers on a chase before he was ultimately arrested and extradited.
In January, the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office sought the public’s help in identifying two suspects who shot at another vehicle, wounding a passenger, in a suspected road rage incident.
Seth Burkett, the northern region public information officer for the Alabama Department of Transportation, offered tips for de-escalating or avoiding road rage, such as planning extra travel time to avoid stress.
“Don’t let your emotions get the best of you,” he said. “Only use your horn if it is absolutely necessary to warn another driver, and just tap it, do not lie on it. If another driver shows aggression, do not approach them. Slow down and keep your distance if if possible, or pull into a safe area. Call 911 to report aggressive drivers.”
Stricklin agreed it’s best to avoid confrontations while driving.
“Just keep your distance and don’t react,” she said. “Don’t make eye contact with them. Try going to a gas station or somewhere where other people are around.”
– david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.
