Preview

Aggressive Driving Statistics Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
612 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Aggressive Driving Statistics Essay
New Study Reveals Alarming Aggressive Driving Statistics

A report released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveal statistics that are frightening and alarming for drivers and others who use our roads each day. Research found that almost 80 percent of drivers experience road rage, aggression, or anger while driving. This is extremely troubling since aggressive driving is a major factor in traffic accidents in the United States. With more aggressive drivers on the road, the risk of being in a traffic accident increases.

What is Aggressive Driving?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as committing “moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property." One of the most
…show more content…
Even though you cannot control what another driver does when behind the wheel of a vehicle, you can take precautions to avoid an aggressive driving accident.

What Should I Do If I Encounter An Aggressive Driver?

The number one rule when encountering an aggressive driver is to avoid all actions which might incite or enrage the driver further. What you must remember is that you are not dealing with a rational person. An aggressive driver is not thinking clearly; therefore, using reason is not an option. Your best option is to get out of their way and avoid challenging them. You never know how another person may respond when he or she is challenged.

Therefore, slow down, change lanes, and put as much distance between you and the person who is exhibiting aggression or road rage. If you believe the driver is posing an immediate threat to others, note the make, model, and license number of the vehicle so that you can report the driver to law enforcement officers. Pull over to a safe location to call 911 to report the aggressive driver. Never confront an aggressive driver yourself and never pull over to confront a driver. This is extremely

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Aggressive driving is characterized by the tendency to view driving as a competition rather than as a means of getting from one place to another. Although most drivers are content to move along with the flow of traffic, aggressive drivers weave from lane to lane, seeking any advantage that will place them ahead of others. Aggressive drivers are also more likely to tailgate and honk the horn in an effort to intimidate other drivers or simply to move them along faster.…

    • 951 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Aggressive driving is characterized by the tendency to view driving as a competition rather than as a means of getting from one place to another. Although most drivers are content to move along with the flow of traffic, aggressive drivers weave from lane to lane, seeking any advantage that will place them ahead of others. Aggressive drivers are also more likely to tailgate and honk the horn in an effort to intimidate other drivers or simply to move them along faster.…

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Drivers ED homework

    • 1817 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Impaired and aggressive driving are two leading causes of incidents on the road, these causes have…

    • 1817 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    This type of hostility is not arranged and frequently happens without giving it much thought. At the point when another auto cuts you off in movement and you start hollering and criticizing the other driver, you are encountering incautious…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Road Rage Research Paper

    • 2133 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The term “road rage” was coined in the USA in the 1980s by a police officer after he pulled over a motorist who shot another driver who cut him off (Sunrise Digest, 1988). Road rage is currently defined as intentionally participating in risky driving behaviors that are known to increase the likelihood of a crash. Previous definitions of road rage did not include intent. This definition change shows that road rage is something that one chooses to do instead of unconsciously doing it. Two forms of road rage have been identified: mild and severe. Mild forms of road rage include obscene gestures and name calling. Severe forms of road rage include threats, physical confrontation, and murder. Certain road conditions, like construction or a detour,…

    • 2133 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Do not grab the wheel when someone else is driving and do not allow others to do this when you are driving. Do not even pretend you are going to grab the wheel. This can be extremely dangerous. Even if the person does not actually grab the wheel, it is a huge distraction to the driver.…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Drivers around you may not drive as fast as you or as slow as you, but you must have patience during these times even if you become upset. It might have been a long day at work or something at home could be the only worry on your mind which could be causing you to become upset. Something as simple as a red light that will not turn green can cause you to become upset, but again, you must stay calm and have patience. If a driver becomes impatient and begins driving erratically, something dangerous could happen to yourself or those around you. For instance, the driver could run the red light and hit another driver in the intersection. Always stay calm and patient while behind the wheel. Patience will keep the driver and passengers’ safe.…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The definition of aggressive driving is: driving any type of vehicle or affecting any type of manoeuvre on a vehicle in which the driver deliberately behaves in such a manner as to increase the risk of a road accident. For example, speeding, meaning the driver is exceeding the speed limit or is driving too fast for the road conditions; excessive lane changing, changing lanes without reasonable cause; improper passing, failing to signal intent, using emergency lanes or shoulders to pass or even cutting into another car’s path; tailgating, driving near the back of the car at too close of a range. If you find yourself in an unpleasant situation involving abusive or aggressive gestures or languages from other drivers, don’t get angry and repeat what they are…

    • 307 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Psychology Paper

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Within the context of humanism, you would need to get the person to examine the reality of the road rage episode and how they behaved and the ideal way they should have acted in the driving situation. You would have the person break down the problem and they could tell you that they were on their way to the market when someone suddenly veered into their lane, which upset the person and they became aggressive towards the other driver. Once they have determined what the problem is, acting aggressively while…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Road Rage Research Paper

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages

    It showed that 61% are acts of verbal abuse, 50% involving aggressive hand gestures, and 30% of aggression is perpetuated by people in the 25-34 age group. Road rage is not limited to any age or social class. "Nearly 1 in 4 adults have committed an act of road rage according to the results of the survey, with men almost 3 times more likely to commit an aggressive act than women." More than 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women stated they had been the victims of some act of aggression from a road user. There are a lot of different causes of road rage. Driving on somebody's rear end or cutting somebody can provoke road rage. The psychological reasoning for this is humans are tended to be territorial. "As individuals we have personal space, or territory, which evolved essentially as a defensive mechanism – anyone who invades this territory is potentially an aggressor"(reportroadrage). People also get angry if they see somebody else poorly driving. People also get mad at the multitasking kind of person somebody talking on a cell phone, reading a book and other stuff while driving (Dr. Driving). These people try to take the law into there own hand and become vigilantes. Some major effects…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Defensive driving is one of the most important skills that you can learn. Not only will it keep you safe, it will protect your drivers license and keep your insurance costs down. Defensive driving is all about observation, anticipation, and creating space between you and the other hazards that you meet on the road. These defensive driving tips will help to keep you and your vehicle safe, save you money, and make your road trips more enjoyable.…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Road rage is a form of aggressive behavior that effects everyone on the road ways. Reports on road rage and aggressive driving show that nearly everyone who drives may display or be affected by such behavior. Males however, the staple of territorial and aggressive behavior, do appear to be larger perpetrators of road rage than females. Studies comparing male and female levels of aggression and territorial behavior find that males are substantially more likely than females to be perpetrators of aggression and/or territorial behavior, which are both defining characteristics of road rage. Offenders of road rage, according to Canary and associates (Canary, Michelson & Switzer, 2009), largely rely on Vehicular Communication (e.g., tailgating, honking the horn), Aggressive Communication (e.g., obscene gestures, threats), and Avoidance (e.g., ignore the other person) to manage road rage episodes. Future research is suggested in the use of a larger sample within the United States and perhaps according to region in regards to gender.…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Driving

    • 300 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Many dangerous driving habits are a result of over confidence. Drivers with years of experience sometimes become dangerous drivers because they are over confident with driving their particular vehicle or a particular route between home and work. They are not prepared when something out of the ordinary…

    • 300 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aggressive driving is driving any type of vehicle where the driver behaves reclus to increase the risk of a road accident. For example, speeding, as in the driver is exceeding the speed limit or is driving too fast for the road conditions, excessive lane changing, improper passing, failing to signal, using emergency lanes or shoulders to pass or even cutting into another car’s path, tailgating etc. Aggressive driving can cause road rage which can lead to several of accidents such as a 5+ car pileup. It is important to not get involved you don’t want to make the situation worse. Aggressive driving can lead to impounded vehicle for 7 days, fines, license suspension and jail time.…

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Types of Drivers

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Firstly, aggressive drivers are the ones who tailgate, finger point and also enjoy swerving in between lanes. So, what makes an aggressive driver? There are a few possibilities. May be they had a bad day, may be they are in a rush to get somewhere, or may be they have no idea how to drive properly. These drivers look as if time is running out, at least that is how most of them act. Aggressive drivers do not take anyone into consideration. They have many dangerous driving habits that may cause accidents. Most of the time these unsafe drivers do not even know that they are breaking the law because it developed into one of their normal routine on the roads. One of the major consequences with aggressive drivers as well as other drivers is that many innocent lives are lost because of their hurriedness.…

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays