Recognizing Aggressive Drivers

Identify the Problem
Have you been injured because of an aggressive driver?  Could there be an aggressive driver in your family?  Drivers of any age or background have been found to display anger and frustration through the way that they handle a vehicle. While a study sponsored by the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety pinned the majority of infractions on poorly educated males 18 to 26 years of age, the rest of offenders came from every demographic.

Industry researchers identify aggressive driving through a number of common traffic violations. While running a stop sign or failing to signal a turn can be due to distraction or momentary error, these actions pop up in cases where aggression was admittedly a factor time and again.

Possible aggressive driving habits include:

• Tailgating
• Flashing of lights
• Cursing or making obscene gestures
• Accelerating rapidly
• Braking without warning
• Weaving through traffic

Other signs of intentional aggressive driving are blocking another vehicle that has the right of way, and of course, actually getting out the car to approach or assault another driver.

More than three-quarters of Americans reported witnessing these behaviors sparked by emotional drivers in the space of a year, and more than half of teenagers surveyed said they had seen their friends act out their aggression behind the wheel. When children witness this behavior from friends or family members whom they respect, they accept it as okay. While police have begun to crack down on prosecuting these specific traffic violations, everyday drivers and passengers can do their part to put an end to this widespread problem. Staying safe on the road may depend on it. Defend your rights, contact a accident lawyer in your area.

Know the Health and Safety Risks
Aggressive habits have been shown to play a part in traffic collisions and rollovers, with speeding a major cause in most fatal crashes. Besides endangering the lives of drivers, passengers and pets, unsafe driving resulting from anger or frustration has other physical consequences. High blood pressure, heart disease, depression and digestive problems can result from unchecked anger issues. Using the family car as an outlet for these emotions is a recipe for disaster.

Research by the British Automobile Association suggests that a driver's mental condition prior to starting the engine is key, and what happens once on the road can either escalate or mitigate that frame of mind. Environmental elements such as extreme heat, loud construction noise, and crowded freeways can contribute to rising driver frustration.

Individual circumstances can help or hurt, too. For instance, a driver who just experienced a personal disappointment may be looking for someone to blame. The first driver who makes a mistake may take the brunt of that rage.

Listening to talk radio on a volatile subject can also inflate angry feelings and cause a driver to stomp on the accelerator or screech through a turn. This behavior may be a sign of intermittent explosive disorder, a mental condition that may have genetic causes. Seeing a friend or family member in this state can be frightening, but passengers can take steps toward calmer, safe and sane driving.

Change Aggressive Behavior
The good news is that anger and aggression can be controlled. Confronting the environmental and personal elements of the driver’s current situation is a good way to start.  Drivers or passengers can:

• Change the radio station
• Turn up the air conditioning
• Find another route on a map

More methods for taking the driver’s mind off of an annoyance are to pull over and take a time out, do some deep breathing, or sing a catchy song.  If anger issues frequently result in aggressive driving habits, seeking medical help is a good idea. Avoiding a fatal crash is certainly reason enough to resolve the issue. Enjoying the drive is another.