Denver Police Encourage Drivers to Cage the (Road) Rage

Denver Police Encourage Drivers to Cage the (Road) Rage

Published on September 25, 2024

DENVER - September 25, 2024 - The Denver Police Department encourages drivers to Cage the (Road) Rage on Denver's roadways. With approximately 321 reports of incidents involving road rage according to callers, from January 1, 2024, through August 31, 2024, all roadway users are reminded to be courteous and practice safe, lawful driving habits.

Road rage typically occurs when a person intentionally drives aggressively, impacting their own safety and the safety of other road users. Examples include tailgating, braking hard and unexpectedly in front of another motorist, brandishing or using a weapon, forcing vehicles off the road, excessive speeding, aggressively changing lanes, excessive horn usage, and more.

A Consumer Affairs report published in 2024 ranked Colorado as the fourth worst state in the county for road rage.

Unfortunately, there have been a number of recent incidents on Denver roadways illustrating this problem.

On August 29, 2024, officers responded to an incident on South Santa Fe Drive, where an adult male who was involved in a suspected road rage incident was shot while driving and later died at the hospital. The suspect was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder.

On August 24, 2024, Denver Police responded to an apparent road rage incident on I-25 near the Santa Fe Drive exit. A motorist died after aggressively changing lanes in front of another motorist and braking hard, causing the two vehicles to collide and roll. The second driver suffered injuries in the crash.

On September 15, 2024, Denver Police responded to an incident in southeast Denver during which one motorist reportedly exited his vehicle and began breaking the windows of another vehicle. The other involved driver then struck the suspect while attempting to flee to safety. This incident remains under investigation.

To curb road rage incidents, the Denver Police Department offers the following tips:

• Drive respectfully and calmly while following the rules of the road
• Use turn signals and allow vehicles to merge
• Acknowledge kind behaviors of other drivers with a wave or polite gesture
• Refrain from responding to aggressive drivers with offensive gestures or other aggressive behaviors, and avoid eye contact
• Travel to a safe place away from an aggressive driver, such as exiting the highway or driving to a police station
• If the driver themself is experiencing anger, try to remain calm and if needed, pull over until the anger subsides
• Call 911 to report dangerous and/or illegal behaviors

"It's incredibly sad and frustrating that we continue seeing tragic outcomes from situations on our roadways that are avoidable," said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. "I implore all motorists to keep a cool head while behind the wheel to help ensure everyone can get to their destinations safely and to avoid the consequences of reckless or violent actions."

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