What if we could point to one factor as a cause of more than one-third of all traffic accidents and two-thirds of all fatal crashes? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, we can identify that factor—and it is known as aggressive driving.
What Is Aggressive Driving?
An aggressive driver is one who is acting in a “selfish, pushy, or impatient manner” in a way that affects other drivers, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Highway Safety. According to this agency, some signs of aggressive driving include:- Tailgating.
- Speeding.
- Going through red lights or stop signs.
- Weaving in and out of traffic.
- Making unsafe or improper lane changes.
- Passing a moving vehicle on the right or on the shoulder.
- Making aggressive hand or face gestures.
- Honking.
- Flashing headlights.
- Screaming or yelling.
- Following too closely.
What Will You Do Next Time You Encounter an Aggressive Driver?
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Highway Safety suggests that you take one or more of the following steps the next time you are near an aggressive driver on the road:- Do whatever you can to get out of his way.
- Don’t challenge her by speeding up or staying in front of her.
- Avoid making eye contact with him.
- Ignore gestures.
- Make sure that you always wear your seat belt to protect you in case of an accident.
- Report aggressive drivers to the police. Give them a description of the vehicle, license plate number and state, the location where you witnessed the aggressive driving, and the direction the vehicle was travelling.