A woman attempted to strike a person with her vehicle Saturday afternoon at the busy intersection of 7th Avenue and Clement Street in San Francisco's Richmond District, prompting a police response and highlighting California's growing road rage crisis.
The incident occurred at 1:37 PM when San Francisco Police received a 911 call reporting that a subject attempted to hit the reporting party with her vehicle, after the pedestrian tried to damage the car's side mirror during the preceding altercation.
Police radio traffic indicated the call as "A 245 attempt" at 7th and Clement, referring to California Penal Code 245 for assault with a deadly weapon. Additional details emerged six minutes later when police began investigating an aggravated assault where a person attempted to damage a vehicle's side mirror.
Richmond District Under Scrutiny
The incident unfolded in the heart of the Inner Richmond, steps away from the Peekadoodle Preschool, the Bank of America branch at 600 Clement Street, and the bustling 7th and Clement Market at 538 Clement Street. The Richmond Police District encompasses the northwest corner of the city and includes the long commercial, shopping and restaurant corridors of Geary Boulevard and Clement Street, according to the San Francisco Police Department.
This latest incident adds to a concerning pattern of aggressive behavior in the city. SFPD is investigating at least five apparent unprovoked attacks that began in July involving a group of juveniles, as reported by Nextdoor. Just weeks earlier, on July 26, police arrested two juvenile females in connection with multiple assault incidents.
California's Road Rage Epidemic
The timing of this vehicular assault underscores a troubling statewide trend. California tops the list of states with the worst road rage, according to a 2024 survey by Forbes Advisor that surveyed 10,000 licensed drivers. The study found that 8.5% of California drivers experience road rage frequently from other drivers in their home state.
Road rage has been responsible for about 300 deaths since 2013, while road rage shooting fatalities increased from 58 individuals in 2018 to 118 in 2023, as documented by The Zebra and Geotab respectively. These statistics reflect a broader national crisis where the number of road rage-related fatal car accidents was up to 467 in 2015, up 500% from just 80 fatal crashes related to road rage in 2006.
Legal Implications
Under California law, using a vehicle as a weapon constitutes assault with a deadly weapon, a serious felony charge. Your license can be suspended for six months if you are convicted of road rage in California for a first-time offense, according to SSD Law Firm PC. Those charged with assault with a deadly weapon will receive two, three, or four years in a state prison or one year in a county jail, or by a fine not exceeding $10,000, as outlined in California Penal Code 245.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has broad authority in road rage cases. Under California Vehicle Code 13210, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has the authority to suspend the driver's license of any motorist it deems to have engaged in road rage behaviors, as reported by Eisner Gorin LLP.
Context and Trends
San Francisco has seen mixed crime trends in recent years. In 2024, violent crime and property crime decreased by 14% and 30% respectively, compared to the prior year, according to Wikipedia. However, aggressive driving incidents continue to pose challenges for law enforcement.
