Let It Go: Police Say Avoid Road Rage By Disengaging
How bad are people driving these days? Police say aggressive driving incidents are on the rise in the metro, although it’s a metric that’s hard to track. Most incidents of road rage, which often stems from aggressive driving, go unreported.
However, Maple Grove police say it’s not uncommon to see drivers tailgating, making aggressive lane changes and driving above the speed limit.
Some parents at Central Park in Maple Grove say they’ve also seen an increase in bad driving behavior.
“I think people are in a big hurry to get to wherever they’re at, and speeds are higher, and they’re more aggressive,” said parent Britney Schrupp.
Maple Grove police say they typically receive several traffic complaints per day.
“It’s not worth it to save a couple of minutes here and there,” said parent Kelli Morrell.
Maple Grove police say they typically see several traffic complaints per day, but road rage incidents often go unreported. They are increasing patrols and have added another officer to the department’s traffic unit.
On Easter Sunday, there was a fatal shooting near County Road 30 and Garland Lane North in Maple Grove. Police say the incident followed a dispute between two drivers that originated 40 miles away near St. Cloud.
Officials say it’s best not to react if you find yourself in a road rage situation.
“When you disengage and don’t confront the person, it usually shuts them down quickly and then drive to someplace that’s safe,” said Maple Grove police Cmdr. Jonathan Wetternach.
Wetternach and other drivers say a few minutes of patience could save a life and keep you out of jail.
“Get out of the situation, especially when your kids are in the car. You don’t want to mess around with that,” said Morrell.
