Find Out How Aggressive Driving Is Defined
Motivation may take several forms. A 2009 American Automobile Association (AAA) report finds motivation intrinsic to aggressive driving. It defines the dangerous behavior as spurred by “impatience, annoyance, hostility and/or an attempt to save time.” Earlier studies suggested that these characteristics need not arise as the result of another driver’s actions, but that the offender’s mental state prior to getting in the car could be expressed during vehicle operation.
Anger and frustration are not the only emotions that affect a person’s ability to drive safely. The multitasking involved in proper operation of a motor vehicle may be too demanding for those who are distracted, anxious or experiencing a crisis. Trying to drive during an upsetting telephone call or racing to the hospital to get news about an injured loved one can make people take daredevil risks.
Another theory by researchers is the blurred line of territoriality that exists in a personal automobile or truck. The private space, moving through the public sphere, gives the illusion of isolation, which may dilute one’s normal sense of obligation to others. For instance, people who would never make a rude gesture in any other environment may feel free to do so while in their cars.
Legal Consequences for Aggressive Drivers
Because it is difficult to prove that aggression motivates drivers who break traffic laws, legal recourse by police and those who are injured in such cases has historically been inadequate. As aggressive driving is increasingly viewed as a public health hazard, though, resources are growing to study and curb the problem. An attorney should be consulted in the event of an accident due to aggressive drivers. Many state police and local law-enforcement agencies have made the safety issue a priority, stepping up citations for known aggression-related driving infractions.
A legal professional who understands the implications of emotionally charged driving can successfully introduce aggression as a motive that bears on a traffic accident. A personal injury lawyer can help drivers and passengers who have been involved in an accident. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has information on research and education on the subject.
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