Aggressive Driving: Know the Risks, Identify Behaviors, and Seek Justice

Aggressive driving is a significant and pervasive problem on the roads today, contributing to countless accidents, injuries, and fatalities each year. Characterized by dangerous behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, and road rage, aggressive driving endangers not only the perpetrator but everyone else on the road. In this article, we will explore the various facets of aggressive driving, including the impact of road rage, the dangers of following too closely, and steps you can take if you’re involved in an accident caused by aggressive driving.

What Is Aggressive Driving?

Aggressive driving encompasses a range of hazardous behaviors performed with little regard for the safety of others. While definitions vary slightly across jurisdictions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) broadly defines aggressive driving as "the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property."

Common Behaviors Associated With Aggressive Driving

• Speeding: Driving at excessive speeds, especially in heavy traffic or adverse weather conditions.
• Tailgating: Following another vehicle too closely, often in an attempt to intimidate the driver.
• Erratic Lane Changes: Swerving between lanes without signaling or cutting off other vehicles.
• Ignoring Traffic Signals: Running red lights or stop signs, and failing to yield the right of way.
• Road Rage: Extreme aggressive behaviors fueled by anger, including verbal threats, obscene gestures, and even physical altercations.

The Dangers of Road Rage

Road rage is an extreme form of aggressive driving that often escalates into physical confrontations or intentional acts to harm others. It’s fueled by stress, impatience, or anger and can manifest in shocking and dangerous ways.

Examples of Road Rage:

• Honking Excessively: A driver repeatedly honks in frustration, disrupting the flow of traffic.
• Yelling or Gesturing: Shouting obscenities or making threatening hand gestures.
• Intentional Collisions: Using a vehicle as a weapon to bump, sideswipe, or block another driver.
• Physical Altercations: Drivers exiting their vehicles to confront others, sometimes leading to fights.

Impact on Safety

Road rage incidents can escalate rapidly and often result in severe accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. A 2016 AAA study found that nearly 80% of drivers admitted to expressing significant anger or aggression behind the wheel at least once in the previous year. Shockingly, around 8 million U.S. drivers had engaged in more extreme behaviors like ramming another vehicle.

The Dangers of Tailgating

Tailgating, or following another vehicle too closely, is one of the most common aggressive driving behaviors. It’s often motivated by impatience or frustration, but it’s also one of the most dangerous practices on the road.

Why Tailgating Is Hazardous

• Reduced Reaction Time: Tailgating reduces the space available to react to sudden stops or changes in traffic.
• Multi-Vehicle Collisions: In dense traffic, tailgating can lead to chain-reaction accidents involving multiple vehicles.
• Driver Intimidation: Tailgating often causes fear or distraction in the driver ahead, increasing the likelihood of mistakes.

Preventing Tailgating

You can take certain steps to reduce the chances and risks of tailgating. First, maintain at least a three-second following distance in normal conditions and increase it in bad weather. You can use cruise control on highways to maintain a consistent speed. Most importantly, stay calm and avoid speeding up if someone is tailgating you; safely change lanes to let them pass.

How Close Is Too Close? How Do I Know if I Was Tailgating?

Most drivers who are issued traffic violations for tailgating are unaware they are breaking the law because a “safe” distance varies so frequently. The ebb and flow of traffic doesn’t allow for a standard following distance, so drivers must use their best judgment at all times.

Plan ahead, stay alert, and travel at a safe speed to allow for the utmost mobility. If you find you're driving too close to another driver, safely slow down to an acceptable distance.

There are a few tricks to determine an appropriate distance between yourself and other cars. Count from when the back bumper of the car in front of you passes a landmark, like a street sign, lamp post, or fire hydrant. On the highway, you can use mile markers.

• Under 30 mph: Drivers should stay two to three seconds behind the vehicle in front of them when traveling under 30 mph, although four seconds is recommended if possible.
• Above 30 mph: At higher speeds, drivers should leave 8 seconds behind the vehicle they’re following.

Drivers also use the two-second rule. This is done by adding one vehicle length for every 5 miles per hour you’re traveling. At 50 mph, drivers should travel 9 seconds behind the vehicle in front of them to allow for the utmost reaction time.

What to Do if You Encounter an Aggressive Driver

When you’re faced with an aggressive driver, your primary goal should be to prioritize safety and avoid escalating the situation.

First and foremost, stay calm. Do not engage with the aggressive driver. Avoid making eye contact or responding to gestures. Safely move to another lane or pull over to let the aggressive driver go ahead.

Try to avoid confrontation and never retaliate by honking excessively, gesturing, or chasing the vehicle.

If the driver’s behavior is putting others at serious risk, pull over safely and report them to the authorities. Provide the license plate number and a description of the vehicle.

If possible, use a dashcam to record the aggressive driver’s behavior. This footage can be useful for reporting purposes or in the event of an accident.

Steps to Take After an Accident Involving Aggressive Driving

Being involved in an accident caused by an aggressive driver can be a traumatic experience. Knowing what to do immediately afterward can make a significant difference in protecting your rights and ensuring your safety.

Firstly, you should ensure your safety. Move to a safe location if your vehicle is drivable. Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. Call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance if necessary.

If you’re able, take pictures of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. Collect contact information and statements from witnesses who saw the aggressive driving. Provide video evidence, if available from a dashcam or otherwise, to support your claim.

Note the aggressive behaviors you observed before the accident, such as speeding, tailgating, or verbal threats, and record the other driver’s license plate number and vehicle description.

After you leave the scene of the accident, seek immediate medical attention. Even if you don’t think you’re injured, see a doctor, as some injuries, like whiplash or internal trauma, may not show immediate symptoms and can worsen over time if left untreated.

Next, contact Morgan & Morgan. Accidents involving aggressive drivers can be legally complex. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you:

• File a claim against the at-fault driver.
• Negotiate with insurance companies.
• Seek compensation for medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

How Morgan & Morgan Can Help

At Morgan & Morgan, we understand the devastating impact that aggressive driving accidents can have on your life. Our dedicated attorneys have decades of experience advocating for victims of reckless and negligent drivers, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

With over $23 billion recovered for our clients, we have the expertise to handle even the most challenging cases. Plus, you don’t have to worry about upfront fees or related costs to work with us. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay unless we successfully recover compensation for you. That’s right—the Fee Is Free™, and you only pay if and when we win.

And with offices in every state across the country, our attorneys are ready to assist you no matter where the accident occurred.

Aggressive driving is a serious threat to road safety, encompassing behaviors like speeding, road rage, and tailgating. While these actions are dangerous and often illegal, their prevalence highlights the importance of vigilance and defensive driving. If you find yourself in an accident caused by an aggressive driver, taking the proper steps and seeking legal representation can help you navigate the aftermath and achieve justice.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to aggressive driving, Morgan & Morgan is here to help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to discuss your case.