Aggressive
Driving

WHO ARE THEY?
Here's what we know of them, so far:
- These high risk drivers climb
into the anonymity of an automobile and take out their frustrations on
anybody at any time.
- For them, frustration levels
are high, and level of concern for fellow motorists is low.
- They run stop signs and red
lights, speed, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right,
make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures,
scream, honk, and flash their lights.
- They drive at speeds far in
excess of the norm which causes them to: follow too closely, change lanes
frequently and abruptly without notice (signals), pass on the shoulder or
unpaved portions of the roadway, and leer at and/or threaten - verbally or
through gestures - motorists who are thoughtless enough to be in front of
them.
WHEN CONFRONTED BY AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS:
- First and foremost make every
attempt to get out of their way.
- Put your pride in the back
seat. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in
your travel lane.
- Wear your seat belt. It will it hold you in your seat and
behind the wheel in case you need to make an abrupt driving maneuver and it
will protect you in a crash.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Ignore gestures and refuse to return them.
- Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities
by providing a vehicle description, license number, location, and if
possible, direction of travel.
- If you have a "Cell" phone,
and can do it safely, call the police -- many have special numbers (e.g.
9-1-1 or #77).
- If an aggressive driver is
involved in a crash farther down the road, stop a safe distance from the
crash scene, wait for the police to arrive and report the driving behavior
that you witnessed.
|
| Avoid the challenges or
confrontations of an aggressive driver and support law enforcement's
efforts to rid the streets and highways of this menace. |
For more information on this and other traffic related
issues, logon to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at
www.nhtsa.dot.gov.