According to the insurance industry experts and other safety professionals, aggressive driving is a major problem on this nation’s highways and byways. In fact, 80% of drivers profiled in 2019 admitted to experiencing feelings of anger and frustration while behind the wheel in the prior 30 days.
While not every driver gives sway to their emotions, a significant percentage do – and that means it’s always wise to educate yourself on what aggressive driving means (and where it can lead).
Examples of aggressive driving
Aggressive driving doesn’t have an exact definition, but it generally means driving in such a way that it increases the risk of an accident. It can be spurred on by things like traffic delays, another driver’s mistake on the road, a conflict the driver has in their personal life or just about anything that tends to inflame someone’s emotions.
In practice, aggressive driving often includes things like:
- Tailgating, especially when the driver in the back seems like they’re angling to pass the driver in the front at any opportunity
- Weaving around other vehicles, often switching lanes and cutting other drivers off in the process, as if every other driver was moving too slowly
- Going through stop signs without coming to a full stop, speeding up at yellow traffic light or running a red without any attempt to slow down
- Passing another driver on the right, particularly if they have to leave the actual road to do it by crossing into a breakdown lane or onto a sidewalk or grass
- Flipping their high beams on or flashing their lights at other drivers in a deliberate attempt to distract or intimidate them
Aggressive driving isn’t far removed from what is commonly called “road rage,” which is an escalated sort of behavior that involves the threat of violence or actual violence. Road rage can turn deadly, which is why the authorities recommend that anyone who encounters an aggressive driver simply move out of their way as quickly as possible and let them pass.
If you’ve been injured by an aggressive driver, find out more about your right to fair compensation for your injuries and losses.