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, and you’re not alone. West Virginia ranks third for aggressive drivers in the nation. Did you know there’s a correlation between aggressive driving and high car accident rates? Some motorists even consider this behavior the greatest threat to their safety on the road.
If you’re unsure what’s considered aggressive driving or don’t understand the potential dangers, here’s how it can increase your risk of being involved in a car accident.
Aggressive driving can take several forms. 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 (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 NHSTA include:
Engaging in any of the above-listed behaviors can result in everything from a minor fender bender to a devastating car accident.
Sometimes, aggressive driving can lead to road rage. The National Safety Council (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 incidents involving road rage.
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, such as:
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. You can usually find the phone numbers listed on highway signs.
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 of the common types of aggressive driving accidents are caused by the following behaviors:
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.
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.
Before you do anything else, take a minute to assess your injuries. You also want to check on any passengers. 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.
In most accident situations, you want to exchange insurance and contact information with the other involved driver/s. Not in this case! The offending driver’s emotions caused the accident. There’s a good chance 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.
You probably want to avoid taking pictures of the vehicle damage. 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. The details are still fresh in your mind.
After alerting the authorities, your next call should be to an experienced WV accident attorney. They will handle all of your case details, from negotiating with insurance companies to representing you in court if your case goes to trial.
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