Windsor police receive 18 calls for road rage incidents since start of 2026

There have been 18 cases of road rage in Windsor so far this year. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru has some tips on handling these situations.

Windsor police say tensions behind the wheel are leading to a steady number of calls for service — with officers responding to 18 reported road rage incidents since the start of 2026.

This comes as police investigate an incident earlier this month that left one person seriously injured. According to investigators, a disagreement between two drivers escalated into a parking lot fight in the 6900 block of Wyandotte Street East, between Jefferson and Lauzon on Feb. 5.

While road rage itself is not a Criminal Code offence, Const. Bianca Jackson says the behaviour that follows often is.

“Now, we’re dealing with an assault, with dangerous driving, with an HTA [Highway Traffic Act] offence,” she said.

Driving instructor Jacob Hammoud said many of those confrontations stem from confusion or unclear communication between motorists.

“Things like people not signaling or people not being in the proper lane before they turn,” said Hammoud, operations manager at iDrive Driving School.

He points to everyday driving decisions, such as when to use a turn signal, as a potential spark for conflict when intentions are misinterpreted.

Normally, a turn signal should be activated the moment your foot hovers over from the acceleration to the brake pedal in anticipation of the turn. According to Hammoud, there is one exception to that.

“If there’s somebody pulling out from a driveway before your turn, you want to hold off on your signal because that person pulling out might think that you are turning into the driveway they’re coming out from,” Hammoud explained.

“If you keep your signal on as you approach them, they’re going to start honking — and that’s because you gave the miscommunication.”

According to the Ontario Driver’s Handbook, behaviours such as tailgating, speeding, failing to yield the right-of-way, or cutting in too closely are “aggressive-driving behaviours” that can escalate tensions on the road.

Police say the best course of action when faced with an aggressive driver is to disengage.

If an angry driver begins to follow you, do not go home.

“Instead, go to a well-lit area where there may be cameras around — but definitely do not engage,” Jackson said.

“You don’t know if the other person has a weapon or something else that can hurt you.”

Hammoud echoed that advice, urging drivers to give others space and avoid confrontation altogether.

“Keep your cool and just stay away from them,” he said.

Jackson added that even if an incident isn’t reported immediately, officers may still be able to investigate after the fact using licence plate information, dash cam footage, or surveillance video from nearby businesses — potentially leading to charges.