Current Article

Aggressive Drivers and Road Rage

You’re driving down a busy highway trying to beat the rush and get to work on time when a slow moving car pulls in front of you. Do you begin yelling and honking your horn? Tailgate until they move out of your way? If so, you’re like the 42% of American drivers who admit to driving aggressively.

Why has aggressive driving become so prevalent? Americans have become even more pressed for time and stressed out. Adding to this problem are the 17% more cars and 10% more drivers on the road today than just ten years ago. We’re also driving for longer distances. Since 1987 the number of miles driven has increased by 35% for each driver. With more drivers driving farther the odds of running into traffic problems and becoming irritated increases dramatically. A national survey recently found that 80% of drivers say that they are angry most or all of the time when driving. In fact, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration now says that road rage and aggressive driving is the number one problem American drivers face.

Aggressive driving and road rage are the result of impaired emotions such as impatience, frustration, inattentiveness, anger and recklessness. The AAA defines road rage as criminal behavior which is "uncontrolled anger that results in violence or threatened violence on the road." It includes assaulting a person with a weapon or with physical force, pointing or shooting a gun, using your car as a weapon to force other drivers off the road and driving at excessive speeds.

While aggressive driving is not criminal behavior, it is behavior which can result in traffic violations, injury and even death. It includes driving through red lights, rolling stops, improper lane changes, not using turn signals, blocking the passing lane, tailgating or braking suddenly to retaliate against other drivers, yelling, making obscene gestures and using your horn excessively. The Philadelphia Daily News analyzed local traffic accidents which occurred in the 1990s and discovered that four of the top six causes of accidents were the result of aggressive driving – running lights (the primary cause of local traffic accidents), tailgating, improper turning and failure to heed a stopped car.

Road rage and aggressive driving can occur at any time of the day or night with little provocation. However, these behaviors occur most frequently during Friday afternoon rush hour, in good weather and in moderately congested urban areas. The profile of a typical aggressive driver is a single male under age 35 with a mid-level income.

• Create a relaxing atmosphere in your car. Play soothing music, avoid distractions, allow plenty of time for your trip and familiarize yourself with your route prior to leaving home.

• If you become upset try to calm down before acting out. Take deep breaths or count to 20 and ask yourself if your reaction is justified by the facts.

• Always use turn signals and avoid cutting off other drivers when turning or changing lanes.

• Avoid blocking intersections, the right hand turning lane or the passing lane. When driving on a highway move into the right lane to let cars pass and if possible move into the left lane to allow traffic to merge.

• Avoid making eye contact or yelling at an aggressive driver. If you feel you are being harassed or threatened pull, over at a safe location (preferably one where there is a large number of people) and contact the police.

• Don’t tailgate. Allow at least two car lengths between your car and other vehicles.

• And finally, try not to take traffic problems personally. Consider that the other driver simply may have made a mistake.

If you've been injured in an accident caused by an aggressive driver or if a passenger in your car has been injured or killed by an aggressive driver, we may be able to help. Contact us today for a free consultation. con