'Road rage'

To the editor:

Road rage is on the rise, increasing seven percent every year, according to auto industry analysts.

An overcrowded roadway can lead to aggressive behavior. If you are being challenged on the road, keep a cool head. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.

Road rage can lead to deadly consequences. It can also affect on your wallet. Insurance companies can take punitive actions against road ragers - whether they caused an accident or just reacted to one. Because police today are better able to determine if an accident is attributable to road rage, insurance companies can use that finding to make a judgment about coverage.

Keep a safe distance from other cars and don't be goaded into angry behavior while behind the wheel. Use your horn as a means of expressing warning, not anger.

If you are followed after an encounter on the road, go immediately to the nearest police station or a least a public spot. Get the license plate numbers from the vehicles of aggressive drivers. Report this information to the police as soon as you can.

Donna M. Picciocchi Allstate Insurance Co