For many, the act of driving can be a relaxed event. From listening to inspirational podcasts to singing along to your favorite song, driving is enjoyable for most. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. According to the NHTSA’s Fatal Accident Reporting System, aggressive driving played a major role in 56 percent of fatal crashes between 2003 to 2007. In most cases, road rage and aggressive driving are labeled as being the same, but in reality there are several different factors that set them apart.
Signs of Aggressive Driving
It’s important to be able to identify the signs of an aggressive driver while on the road to avoid any potential altercations or dangerous situations. While there are obvious signs such as speeding and sudden lane changes, there are other important signs to keep an eye out for. Here are the most common signs of an aggressive driver:
- Speeding excessively
- Tailgating others
- Running stop signs
- Speeding up on yellow lights
- Racing to beat red lights
- Failing to yield
- Merging in and out of traffic
What are the Differences Between Aggressive Driving and Road Rage?
While many people believe that aggressive driving and road rage are the same thing, they are actually viewed as two different situations according to the law. Aggressive driving is considered a traffic offense, while road rage is a criminal defense.
Specifically, road rage is defined as “An assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of another motor vehicle.” In many cases, road rage can result in a serious accident. According to a Lowell car accident lawyer, “A car accident can leave you with serious personal injuries, expensive medical bills, and losses of income.”
Tips for dealing with an aggressive driver
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to completely avoid aggressive drivers no matter how hard you try. From a heavily traveled road to a low traffic area, an aggressive driver can strike at any time. If you frequently travel on the road, here are a few tips to keep in mind if you come up against an aggressive driver:
- Ignore the behavior
- Avoid making eye contact
- Don’t tailgate
- Don’t make obscene gestures
- Let them pass
- Call 911
- Do not exit your vehicle to approach theirs
- Use your horn sparingly
- Do not block the turn lane
If you find yourself in a threatening situation with an aggressive driver, it’s important to take the correct steps in order to ensure the safety of yourself, the other driver and everyone else on the road to avoid a serious car accident.