A routine traffic incident escalated dangerously in Florida, with two drivers resorting to pulling weapons on each other in a frightening road rage confrontation.

According to an affidavit, the incident began when the driver of a white car, identified as Rafael Rivera, allegedly cut off a motorcyclist on the road. The motorcyclist claimed Rivera also threw something at him as he drove past.

Rivera contends the motorcyclist gave him the middle finger, which prompted him to pull over at an intersection. Witnesses say Rivera then exited his vehicle and brandished a knife, prompting the motorcyclist to put on a pair of brass knuckles.

Footage captured by the motorcyclist’s wife shows the tense standoff between the two men, with both appearing ready to use their weapons.

Authorities were eventually called to the scene, and a sheriff’s deputy who reviewed the video footage placed Rivera under arrest for aggravated assault. Rivera claimed he did not remember approaching the other driver in an aggressive manner.

The bond for Rivera was set at $5,000 for the incident, which serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of road rage and the need for de-escalation when tensions flare between drivers. 

This encounter could have easily turned tragic if the situation had not been defused by law enforcement’s intervention.