Almost every driver has encountered some form of aggressive driving. Maybe you’ve even engaged in the behavior yourself. After all, it’s easy to lose your patience with inconsiderate and reckless drivers.
However, you may not be aware of the correlation of aggressive driving to high car accident rates. Some motorists even consider the behavior the greatest threat to their safety on the road. If you’re unsure what’s considered aggressive driving or understand the potential dangers, this article will take a closer look at just how it can increase your risk of being involved in a car accident.
What Is Considered Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving can take several forms—for instance, if a driver speeds in front of you and slams on their brakes, this can be considered aggressive driving. Being tailgated is another example, along with speeding through red lights.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, also known as the NHTSA, aggressive driving occurs when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses to endanger other persons or property.”
Some examples of aggressive driving listed by the NHTSA include:
- Driving in an erratic, reckless, or negligent manner
- Driving illegally on the shoulder, median, or sidewalk.
- Failing to obey stop signs, yield signs, and other traffic signals
- Frequent, erratic, and unsafe lane changes
- Failing to signal turns or lane changes
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Ignoring signals from other drivers
- Passing in zones where passing is prohibited
- Tailgating
- Taking out frustrations on other motorists
- Running red lights
- Engaging in any of the above-listed behaviors can result in everything from a minor fender bender to a devastating car accident.
Aggressive Driving Can Lead to Road Rage
Sometimes, aggressive driving can lead to road rage. The National Safety Council or NSC tracks road rage statistics and defines the behavior as, “a physical assault of a person or vehicle as a result of a traffic incident.” In other words, a driver is using their vehicle to do intentional harm to others on the road.
While statistics from the NSC find younger male drivers are more likely to exhibit this dangerous driving behavior, this doesn’t mean older drivers and females also don’t engage in behaviors associated with road rage.
Unfortunately, the NCS also finds around 37% of road rage incidents involve firearms. Not only is this frightening behavior, but it can also result in serious injury or even fatalities. Aggressive driving is also responsible for about half of all reported road rage incidents.
With more and more drivers losing their patience on the roads, the chances are increasing that you’ll find yourself involved in an incident with an aggressive driver. So, what should you do to stay safe? The National Safety Council has a few suggestions, which include:
- Switch lanes or pull over in a safe location and allow the angry driver to pass
- Don’t make eye contact, keep your gaze focused on the road
- Don’t make any rude gestures, this includes with your hands or face.
Remember, every situation is unique. Sometimes, these tips aren’t enough to prevent a confrontation that can turn into an accident. If the angry driver is still following you or pulls over behind you, call 911 immediately.
If the aggressive driver is placing others at risk, you may want to call the local non-emergency number. Some municipalities even have a dedicated hotline for aggressive driving reports, and you can usually find the phone numbers listed on highway signs.
For car accident reports, it's essential to contact the appropriate authorities to ensure a proper record is made.
Common Types of Aggressive Driving Accidents
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that aggressive driving incidents are up 56% in fatal car crashes. Thankfully, not all car accidents caused by aggressive driving result in a fatality, but injuries and vehicle damage can still be severe.
Some common types of aggressive driving accidents are caused by the following behaviors:
- Speeding.
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Careless, erratic, or reckless driving
- Failure to obey traffic signals or signs
- Improper turns
- Improper passing
- Improper following (tailgating)
While the best course of action is to avoid driving near an aggressive driver, sometimes accidents are impossible to avoid. For example, if an angry or impatient driver flies through a red light, there’s often little you can do to get out of the way. Understanding the legal implications of a sideswipe accident will help you navigate the claims process and protect your rights. It’s important to know your responsibilities and how liability is determined, which can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the accident.
What to Do If You're Involved in an Aggressive Driving Accident
As mentioned earlier, sometimes you can’t avoid an aggressive driver—they can make it impossible to get safely out of the way in time. If you find yourself in an accident involving an angry driver, try to follow these steps.
Assess Your Injuries
Before you do anything else, take a minute to carefully assess your injuries. You also want to check on any passengers and, if necessary, seek immediate medical attention.
If your injuries aren’t severe enough to warrant a ride to the emergency room, still make an appointment with your physician. Some injuries can take a while to appear, and it’s always best to be proactive about your health. You’ll also need the medical paperwork if you decide to seek compensation for any injuries.
Avoid the Angry Driver
In most accident situations, you want to exchange insurance and contact information with the other involved driver(s), but not in this case! The offending driver’s emotions caused the accident, and there’s a good chance that the other driver isn’t feeling any calmer.
Trying to exchange information may only make the situation worse, leading to an unpleasant and potentially dangerous situation. Let the police handle the information exchange. You can always get the details in the police report.
Document the Accident Scene
You probably want to avoid taking pictures of the vehicle damage since this can place you near the other driver, who’s probably still feeling angry. However, you can take pictures of your injuries and even jot down the events leading up to the accident.
Writing down these details shortly after the accident helps ensure you don’t leave any important information out since the details are still fresh in your mind.
Contact An Accident Attorney if You’re Involved in an Aggressive Driving Incident
An accident can be a major shakeup in anyone’s life. After promptly contacting the authorities, reaching out to a seasoned accident attorney is crucial. Their expertise is invaluable in managing every aspect of your case, including adept negotiations with insurance companies and providing robust representation in court should your case escalate to trial.
Additionally, an accident attorney can offer strategic advice and support, ensuring your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve.
