SAFETY TOPIC: AGGRESSIVE DRIVING
| -Could You Be an Aggressive Driver? |
| -Statistics |
| -Delaware Law |
| -Goals |
| -What to Do |
| -Aggressive Driving vs. Road Rage |
| -OHS Efforts |
Could You Be An Aggressive Driver?
What They Do:
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They roll through stop signs and run red lights |
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They speed - 15 miles over the limit or more on a daily basis |
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They ride on people's bumpers to "encourage" them to move out of their way |
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They pass on shoulders |
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They change lanes frequently, without signaling, and come very close to the vehicle they're passing when they do it |
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Unable to judge the speed of oncoming traffic - they don't merge - they just drive right in and expect others to make way for them |
What They Think:
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They see driving as a contest...whether against the clock or another driver |
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They believe that everyone else is a bad driver, displaying an 'it's not me' mentality |
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They don't think that going 70 mph or more in a 55 mph zone is speeding. They believe the laws should be changed to increase the speed limits. |
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They don't think speeding is dangerous because it's something that 'everybody does' |
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They tend to blame others for their actions
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They take other people's driving behavior personally..."they're blocking me to keep me from passing them." |
How They Behave:
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They become frustrated at other drivers and retaliate: by tailgating them, making obscene gestures when passing, yelling at other drivers and cutting close to the front bumper of the vehicle in front of them |
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In 2003, acts of aggressive driving were listed as contributing factors in 53% of Delaware's 127 fatal motor vehicle crashes. As of July 12, 2004 they are also listed contributing factors in 36 out of 56 (or 64%) of Delaware's fatal motor vehicle crashes. On average acts of aggressive driving are involved in 43% of all traffic crashes in Delaware annually.
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On June 30th, 1999 the General Assembly passed the state's first aggressive driving law. In simplest terms, if a driver commits three specified traffic offenses (including speeding, failing to yield the right of way, making an unsafe lane change, passing on the shoulder, ignoring a traffic control device, following too closely, or overtaking a stopped school bus) in a single incident, that person will be charged with an aggressive driving violation. They may be fined between $100 and $300 dollars, or face 10 to 30 days in jail. They must also complete a behavior modification class or attitudinal driving course.
If convicted of a second or subsequent aggressive driving offense within three years, they may find their license suspended for 30 days.
To enhance enforcement efforts, public awareness programs, and educational efforts focused on reducing fatal crashes resulting from aggressive driving acts .
When confronted by aggressive drivers:
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First and foremost make every attempt to get out of their way. |
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Put your pride in the back seat. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your travel lane. |
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Call 9-1-1 as soon as you can safely do so...but the sooner the better. |
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Provide police dispatchers with a vehicle description (color, make, model, size, number of doors), direction of travel, and a license plate number if possible. |
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Wear your seat belt. It will hold you in your seat and behind the wheel in case you need to make an abrupt driving maneuver and it will protect you in a crash. |
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Avoid eye contact. |
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Ignore gestures and refuse to return them. |
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If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash farther down the road, stop a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for the police to arrive, and report the driving behavior that you witnessed. |
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Aggressive Driving V. Road Rage
Although the terms aggressive driving and road rage are often used interchangeably by the general public, motorists should note some important differences between the two.
Aggressive driving is a traffic violation. It consists of the driving behaviors listed above such as speeding and tailgating.
Road Rage is a criminal violation. Very often, acts of aggressive driving spark incidents of road rage.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage as an assault with a motor vehicle or other weapon on other vehicles, precipitated by a specific incident. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety defines it as a deliberate attempt to harm other persons or property arising from an incident involving use of a motor vehicle. Road rage is an act of violence.
Some of the weapons that people have used in road rage-related incidents include firearms, motor vehicles, pepper spray, eggs, golf clubs, crossbows, baseball bats, and tire irons.
While aggressive driving is a growing and disturbing trend in the state of Delaware, actual occurrences of road rage are low in number.
OHS kicked off The Take It Easy Campaign in 1997 during the July 4th weekend. Take It Easy is a unique blend of education and enforcement, designed to curb the problem of aggressive driving and road rage. Enforcement activities are conducted statewide during holiday weekends, which are typically the highest crash times of the year. State and local police agencies look for ten targeted aggressive driving violations including speed, making unsafe lane changes, failure to yield the right of way, passing on the shoulder, and ignoring traffic control devices.
OHS also developed informational brochures, posters, billboards like the one below, and radio public service announcements for the campaign
Then Delaware Governor Tom Carper makes remarks in Georgetown at aggressive driving billboard unveiling in 1999.
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