Aggressive
Driving
Identifying aggressive drivers is simple.
They take out their frustrations on you and your fellow motorists, which can lead to a crash or even violence. Aggressive drivers typically tailgate and make frequent lane changes, whip in and out of lanes to try to advance ahead, and run red lights and speed.
Speeding is Serious:
Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves
or objects.
Speeding extends stopping distance, which is especially dangerous when sudden braking is required.
Speeding increases the risk of crashes and injuries because other vehicles and pedestrians may not be able to correctly judge the vehicle’s distance
Speeding increases fuel consumption and costs.
As speed gets higher, the risk of death, disfigurement,
and serious injury during crashes increases.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is: More than twice as likely to result in death than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph. Nearly five times as likely to result in death than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below.
Always obey the posted speed limit.
Don’t get caught by law enforcement wrongly assuming there’s a “buffer zone” surrounding the posted speed limit. Speed limits are related to road conditions and are enforced to save lives and protect motorists.
When you see aggressive drivers on the roadways:
• Make every attempt to get out of their way.
• Put your pride aside and don’t challenge them.
• Avoid eye contact and ignore gestures.
• Don’t sink to their level; remain a safe, courteous driver.
• Report serious aggressive drivers to law enforcement after pulling over in a safe place; be prepared to provide a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel, and license plate.
Avoid Being an Aggressive Driver
While your life may be in the fast lane, when driving, always plan and allow yourself extra time for unexpected delays.
- Concentrate, relax, and drive the posted speed limit.
- Use your signals to indicate a turn or lane change.
- Provide appropriate distance when changing lanes after passing another vehicle.
- Do not block the passing lane or tailgate.
- Pay attention to traffic and weather reports for potential delays.
- Have at least one alternate route in mind. While it may be a little longer in distance, this route could be less congested.
- If all else fails, just be late. The world will continue to spin.
