Are You an Aggressive Driver?
Most of us can identify when a vehicle around us is driving aggressively. What we don’t often notice is when our own behavior is triggering drivers around us in an aggressive manner. Are you an aggressive driver? Here are some red flags to be aware of as well as ways to avoid these types of behaviors while you are on the road.
A 2018 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that nearly 80% of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the previous year. That means that the vast majority of drivers have probably displayed some classic threatening behaviors while operating a vehicle.
Signs You Are an Aggressive Driver
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes a clear distinction between road rage and aggressive driving, where the former is a criminal charge and the latter a traffic offense. This definition places the blame on the driver. Think you might be aggressive? Here are some behaviors to watch out for…
- Regularly driving over the speed limit
- Trying to beat red lights or traffic situations because you are in a rush
- Honking the horn in anger
- Flashing lights to make drivers move over
- Using obscene gestures or profane language towards other drivers
These behaviors are not only considered aggressive, they are also extremely dangerous while driving an automobile or truck. Congested traffic, life stressors, lack of sleep, drugs, or alcohol can also lead to these behaviors. If you display any of these, you may be an aggressive driver and should reevaluate your anger before something catastrophic happens.
How To Deal With Aggressive Drivers
Once you have checked your own behavior behind the wheel, you may want to know more about how to handle situations where you encounter aggressive behaviors. Dealing with horn honking, tailgating, flashing of lights, and speeding cars can be stressful, but there are a few things you can do to de-escalate the situation or, at the very least, avoid an accident yourself.
- Let the aggressive driver pass you by getting out of the way, pulling over, or slowing down to allow them to get in front of you.
- Ignore harsh language, hand gestures, or yelling in order to diffuse the situation. Try not to engage the person as much as possible.
- Continue practicing safe driving practices.
- Call the police if the aggressiveness is endangering others on the road.
At Clearinghouse Navigator, we care about our commercial drivers, whether they operate a truck, bus, or lager vehicle for business. Follow these simple steps to stay safe on the roadways and highways. Check out our vast eLearning programs that can help you with stress, addiction, and driving situations that could put you in danger.