It’s one of those moments that leaves you shaking your head. On Tuesday during afternoon rush hour, witnesses on Highway 401 near Leslie Street in Toronto captured two people engaged in a wrestling match in live lanes of the westbound lanes.
“You know you’re having a bad day when you find yourself rolling around on the highway, fighting with someone else who you became annoyed with,” says OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, in his own video posted to X on Thursday morning.
The man who recorded the fight says he called OPP while it was taking place. The fight had cleared before officers arrived on the scene. There is no word on exactly how the fight started.
“This is something that should never be happening,” Schmidt says. “If you’re going to get hot under the collar, please don’t turn it into physical actions. This is certainly unacceptable.”
The brawl is just the latest in a series of road rage incidents on Highway 401. Earlier this year, OPP investigated a road rage incident that led to a serious crash involving two motorcycles and an SUV in Durham Region.
Last year, occupants of one vehicle threw an object and damaged the window of another vehicle on the highway in Etobicoke.
WWW.ONTARIO.CA has the following advice for avoiding a road rage incident.
Aggressive-driving behaviours, such as tailgating, speeding, failing to yield the right-of-way and cutting in front of someone too closely, may cause other drivers to become frustrated and angry and lead to a road-rage conflict between drivers. An angry driver may attempt dangerous retaliatory action. Avoid becoming angry on the road by following these tips:
- Know the warning signs of stress and combat them by getting fresh air, breathing deeply and slowly, and listening to relaxing music.
- Make a conscious decision not to take your problems with you when driving.
- If you are on a long trip, take a break from driving every few hours.
- Don’t compete with another driver or retaliate for what you believe to be inconsiderate behaviour.
- If someone else’s driving annoys you, don’t try to “educate” the person. Leave traffic enforcement to the police.
- Don’t take other drivers’ mistakes or behaviours personally.
- Avoid honking your horn at other drivers, unless absolutely necessary. A light tap on the horn is usually sufficient.
Remember that if you drive responsibly and courteously, you are less likely to spark a road rage situation.
- Plan your route in advance. Some of the most erratic and inconsiderate driving occurs when a driver is lost.
- Drive in a courteous and considerate manner.
- Yield the right-of-way when it is courteous to do so.
- Be polite and let other drivers in front of you when they are signalling that they would like to do so.
- If you make a mistake while driving, indicate that you are sorry. An apology can greatly reduce the risk of conflict.
- Don’t return aggression. Avoid eye contact and do not gesture back. Keep away from erratic drivers.
If you are in a situation in which you feel threatened by another driver, do the following:
- Stay in your vehicle and lock the doors.
- If you have a cell phone, call the police.
- Use your horn and signals to attract attention.
- If you believe you are being followed, do not drive home. Drive to a police station or a busy public place.
