AAA Study Finds Aggressive Driving a Growing Problem
It seems like nothing can make someone angrier than traffic. Whether you have to sit in a bumper-to-bumper line of cars or people are zooming past each other on the highway, there is always something to upset you. If you have not experienced another driver’s act of road rage, surely someone you know has. In addition to our personal experiences, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression, or road rage while driving in the past year. Now this can mean a lot of things, from yelling or honking to much worse – tailgating, cutting people off, or getting out of your car to start a confrontation. It is obvious how these behaviors can lead to accidents on the road.
Aggressive Driving Increasing in the U.S.
The AAA found aggressive driving is a significant problem on our roads and it is growing. According to the foundation’s survey, two out of three drivers believe aggressive driving is a larger problem today than it was three years ago. Ninety percent of survey respondents also believe aggressive driving is a serious threat to their personal safety – and they are right. Aggressive maneuvers can cause accidents and confrontations can lead to physical assaults.
Types and Rates of Aggressive Driving
According to the AAA, certain types of aggressive behavior behind the wheel are more common than others. The survey found 51 percent of drivers purposefully tailgated someone. This means approximately 104 million motorists drive too close to the car in front of them, greatly increasing the risk of a rear-end accident. Close to half of drivers yell at one another or honk to demonstrate their anger or annoyance, and about one-third make angry gestures.
The next four aggressive driving behaviors are more concerning than yelling or gestures because the poor driving increases the risk of an accident:
- Nearly a quarter of drivers try to stop another car from changing lanes;
- Twelve percent intentionally cut off other vehicles;
- Four percent of drivers get out of their own vehicles to argue with another driver; and
- Three percent of drivers intentionally ram or bump another vehicle.
While these percentages may seem comparatively small to people who yell, honk, or make gestures, keep in mind that even three percent equates to 5.7 million drivers.
If You Are Hurt in an Accident
No matter how calm of a driver you might be, there is a possibility that someone else’s anger will lead to an accident and hurt you. If you were injured in a car crash and you believe the other person was driving aggressively on purpose or was in a road rage, contact an attorney right away. By working with a personal injury lawyer, you have someone experienced in investigating collisions and determining if the other driver was negligent. If this is the case in your situation, you may be able to recover from that person in court.
Call Today
Do not hesitate to seek sound legal advice from a passionate New Braunfels truck accident attorney. You deserve to know your rights and legal options. Call The Bettersworth Law Firm or contact us online today for a free case consultation.
Source:
http://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/07/nearly-80-percent-of-drivers-express-significant-anger-aggression-or-road-rage/
