The actions of another driver have you concerned. Speeding, abruptly changing lanes, tailgating and cutting off other drivers are obvious signs of an aggressive driver. In your mind, you think, “That’s an accident waiting to happen.”
The best thing for you to do as a driver is to avoid these angry and impulsive drivers and give them lots of space. These are dangerous drivers – the ones no one wishes to encounter on residential streets and highways.
May be more dangerous than drunk drivers
Just how dangerous are aggressive drivers? Some researchers contend that aggressive drivers kill two to four times more people than drunk drivers. And during a five-year period in the early 2000s, aggressive driving was a factor in 56% of the country’s fatal crashes, according to the American Automobile Association.
An aggressive driver is one who endangers the lives of other drivers and their passengers. Their motto is often rooted in two things: disregard for others and disregard of the law. But other factors such as anonymity, running late, frustration and traffic congestion play roles in their behavior.
Just who are they?
Who are the aggressive drivers? They could be anyone, but they usually are younger drivers.
Researchers contend that they are most often white men under 30 who drive high-performance vehicles such as sports cars or high-profile vehicles such as pickups. In addition, women drivers in SUVs and luxury cars are more aggressive than men.
Among the obvious signs
Here are some of the common signs of an aggressive driver:
- Speeding and racing
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Following too closely/tailgating
- Weaving through traffic
- Abruptly changing lanes
- Veering into the lane of another driver
- Boxing in other cars
- Cutting off other drivers
- Failing to yield the right of way
Aggressive drivers also subscribe to intimidation by shouting and making obscene gestures.
A heartbeat away from serious injury
When you share the road with aggressive drivers, you may be a heartbeat away from a crash that could lead to life-changing injuries. Their recklessness could have a significant impact on your life. Do your best to maintain a safe distance from them. You do not want to become a statistic.
