As a New York motorist, you may be familiar with traffic jams, slow drivers and being stuck behind the aftermath of a car accident. You may have had feelings of anger and road rage as you are in a rush to get to an important appointment or make it home from a long day at work. If you have, you are certainly not alone. Nearly 80% of Americans experienced road rage at some point within the last year, according to AAA. During a five year period, 56% of deadly accidents involved aggressive driving behaviors.
The anger is not necessarily the prime problem. The issue is the dangerous driving habits that come with road rage. It is important that you know how to spot the signs of an aggressive driver so you can potentially avoid becoming involved in an accident.
The Insurance Information Institute reports the following as aggressive driving behaviors to look out for:
- Failure to adhere to stop signs, traffic signals, pedestrian crosswalks and other drivers’ right of way
- Blocking other drivers from changing lanes or cutting off other drivers
- Following too closely or tailgating
- Speeding or racing other drivers
- Yelling, shouting expletives and using angry hand gestures
In certain cases, the anger may become so intense that aggressive drivers may hit other vehicles or exit their vehicles to confront other drivers. They may even have weapons or threaten physical harm to other drivers.
If you encounter an aggressive driver, it is best to avoid eye contact and refrain from exchanging any words. Law enforcement officers ask that you contact them and allow them to handle the problem.
