Rise in road rage shootings reaches Decatur
Nov. 5—An apparent road rage shooting in Decatur early Sunday is the latest in a growing trend of such incidents nationwide.
Between 2014 and 2023, firearm-involved road rage incidents have more than doubled in the U.S., and the number of victims killed or injured has increased by more than 400%, according to data collected by the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive and analyzed by The Trace, a nonprofit news outlet focused on gun violence.
Locally, a motorcyclist remained in critical condition at UAB Hospital on Monday after Decatur police said the motorcyclist and another person got involved in an apparent road rage incident while traveling south on Sixth Avenue Southeast shortly after 1 a.m.
A man at the scene was detained for questioning and then released, according to Decatur police, who 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 overall for having the most confrontational drivers. The survey measured responses along nine metrics, such as the percentage of drivers who experienced being forced off the road. Alabama's 2024 rank dropped to 41.
Nationwide, according to the 2024 survey, 41% of drivers witnessed an act of road rage, 32% experienced road rage from another driver, and 22% felt road rage themselves.
"It's probably safe to say the trend is increasing, because, if you look at what causes it, the main thing is people being so impatient and not handling stress well," said Rhonda Stricklin, a senior transportation research engineer for the Alabama Transportation Institute at the University of Alabama. "And I think people, in general, are becoming more impatient."
Compiling data on road rage can be difficult, as researchers must collect the data from disparate sources, according to Stricklin.
Stricklin said men are more likely than women to have road rage, and road rage is more likely in heavily congested areas or when traffic is backed up due to construction or a crash.
Peer-reviewed scientific studies show the mere presence of a gun 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 guns drove more aggressively.
According to data analyzed by The Trace, Alabama had six road rage shootings in 2023, down from 9 in 2022. A glance at local headlines suggests 2024's numbers will have at least a few shootings from north Alabama.
Two Hazel Green high school students on their way home from snapping homecoming photos were shot at twice during a road rage incident on Oct. 19, according to WAFF 48.
The alleged offender, Donnie Kent, is facing two counts 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 road rage incident on Beltline Road. McAlpin is out on bond as the case awaits consideration by a Morgan County grand jury.
In February, Morgan County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to an apparent road rage incident involving shots fired from a vehicle on Interstate 65. The driver, a fugitive from Michigan, led deputies on a chase before he was finally 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, injuring an occupant, in a suspected road rage incident.
Seth Burkett, the north region public information officer for the Alabama Department of Transportation, offered tips for deescalating or avoiding road rage situations, such as planning additional travel time to avoid stress.
"Don't let your emotions take the wheel," he said. "Use your horn only when it's really needed to alert another driver, and just tap it, don't lay on it. If another driver is displaying aggression, don't engage with them. Slow down and keep your distance if possible or pull over in a safe area. Call 911 to report aggressive drivers."
Stricklin agreed that it's best to avoid confrontation while driving.
"Just keep your distance and don't respond," she said. "Don't make eye contact with them. Try to get to a gas station or somewhere where there's other people around."
