In addition to remaining alert for inclement weather, damaged roadways and other dangers, drivers should also be aware of the risk caused by other drivers’ decisions. One common source of danger is aggressive driving.
How common is aggressive driving?
Drivers exhibit aggressive behaviors more often than many may expect. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates that four out of every five people surveyed had expressed anger or aggression while driving within the prior month.
As CNN reports, some of these behaviors have become more common over the past few years. With fewer commuters and emptier roads, many drivers increased their speed and some even exhibited road rage or engaged in street racing. Some have linked these aggressive behaviors to the increased fatalities seen on roadways in recent years.
What can aggressive driving include?
Reckless driving is a broad category that includes a variety of different behaviors, some of which are illegal and others that are simply dangerous. Aggressive driving can involve:
- Driving above the speed limit
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failing to signal lane changes or turns
- Leaving too little space between vehicles when entering a lane
- Passing in no passing zones
- Driving on the shoulder, median or other prohibited area
- Slowing down after entering the lane in front of another driver
- Speeding up or slowing down to prevent a driver from entering lanes
Any of these behaviors could put other vehicles and pedestrians at risk. For example, driving above the speed limit could lead a driver to be unable to stop in time to avoid a hazard. Drivers choosing to travel on the shoulder or the sidewalk put any pedestrians in those areas at risk of a collision. Thankfully, legal options are available for those harmed by other drivers’ reckless actions.