Whether you are driving to class in the morning, driving home after work or driving across town to complete household errands, chances are that you’ve witnessed poor or reckless driving. Perhaps the most frightening experiences center around aggressive drivers and road rage incidents. These drivers can make county roads, highways and city streets all seem like deadly environments.
Numerous factors can all contribute to aggressive driving, but nothing excuses the behavior. From fatigue and stress to family strife and rushing to beat a deadline, some drivers simply get behind the wheel consumed by dangerous intent. Common signs of an aggressive driver can include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Failing to yield
- Failing to signal a lane change
- Rapid lane change
- Illegal passing
- Failing to follow posted safety signals
Additionally, these drivers can quickly escalate a situation by focusing on one vehicle as the source of their ire. Experts often call this “road rage” and it is typified by several signs of danger, including:
- Yelling at other drivers
- Constant use of horns or high beams
- Aggressive passing and brake-checking drivers
- Passing on the shoulder of the road to get in front of a target vehicle
Unfortunately, these actions can often escalate further. An enraged, aggressive driver could easily pass threatening levels into direct action. These drivers can ram another vehicle from the rear or sideswipe the target vehicle while passing. Depending on the types of vehicles and the speeds at which they were traveling, these incidents can result in devastating property damage and catastrophic bodily injury.
No matter the speed of the roadway or the amount of traffic, it is crucial that drivers do not reciprocate these dangerous behaviors. It might be difficult, but it is best to recognize and then ignore the actions of an aggressive driver. Often, the natural tendency is to match aggression and speak through the actions of your vehicle. Unfortunately, this often leads to terrible collisions and severe injuries.