Although against the law, aggressive driving is so prevalent that most drivers have participated in this behavior on a regular basis. Aggressive driving happens when one driver becomes severely annoyed at another and ends up lashing out because of their anger. They may engage in dangerous maneuvers while in traffic because of their road rage. There are several ways that aggressive driving can happen, but reading more about it can help you understand how to prevent yourself from getting involved with an aggressive driver. According to The Pendergrass Law Firm, here is what you should know about aggressive driving:
What Is Aggressive Driving?
The official definition of an aggressive driver is when one individual does several moving traffic offenses that put another’s life in danger. This can include passing in unprohibited zones, not properly changing lanes, not signaling when turning or lane changing, driving on a sidewalk or shoulder, not following traffic signals, ignoring yield and stop signs, tailgating, speeding, passing red lights, and other forms of reckless driving.
Aggressive Driving Statistics
According to research, about 50% of road rage cases are caused by distracted driving. When a driver is cut off in traffic, this also causes 44% of road rage activity. Younger generations seem to be more involved in road rage incidents compared to older adults, as 40% of male drivers between 15 and 21 were involved in fatal accidents in 2019. Road rage can also cause murders, and was the cause of over 215 homicides between 2013 and 2020. About 26% of all traffic fatalities were caused by aggressive driving as well.
Aggressive driving is a problem that plagues us all, and it was found that 82% of drivers admitted to participating in some form of road rage. The number of injuries that were caused by road rage totaled up to 12,610 over a seven-year period. About 66% of traffic fatalities were also the result of aggressive driving. On average, about 30 murders per year happen because of road rage.
How Can Aggressive Driving Be Avoided
To protect yourself from aggressive drivers, you can apply safe methods to help protect you from getting harmed by their reckless behavior.
Move Out Of The Way
If you see an aggressive driver flying toward you, get away from them. You don’t want to be caught in a bad collision because they are road raging. Slow down and change lanes to put distance between you and them.
Dial *477
If you see an incredibly reckless, aggressive driver that is causing trouble on the road or highway, you can dial *477 and report them to the police. They can locate who they are based on the description of the car and the area they are in.
Don’t Get Emotional
Aggressive drivers can make you upset and uncalm, but it is better if you don’t get riled up. Stay relaxed and don’t get involved with the other driver.
Don’t Try To Confront Them.
You may want to challenge the aggressive driver and correct their behavior. You shouldn’t confront the aggressive driver and just let them drive away. This will keep you safe from getting into a miserable accident.
Don’t Take It Personal.
Try to understand that the aggressive driver isn’t always taking out their anger on you or other drivers; they are probably mad at what someone did to them earlier on. Try not to feel bad about how an aggressive driver treats you.
Move Away From The Passing Lane
Let the aggressive driver get around you so that they don’t cause problems in traffic for you. You should make sure that you give the aggressive drive room and don’t let them crash into you or cut in front of you.
What If I Got Into A Car Wreck With An Aggressive Driver?
If you are in a situation where the other driver was in a road rage, was the cause of your accident, but won’t admit it, you will need an attorney to help prove you are not liable for your damages. They can collect evidence such as footage from traffic cameras, review the driving history of the other party, and even get information from the other driver’s engineer using black box data to find out if they were speeding before the accident. Attorneys are professional sleuths who try to get to the truth of the matter to help you get an accurate and fair settlement amount to pay for all the damages you experienced.
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