Road rage often serves as a motivator behind aggressive driving behaviors. Many people do not even consider it that dangerous.
But reckless and aggressive driving actually threatens motorists in enormous ways on a daily basis.
Statistic information about aggressive driving
The Insurance Information Institute discusses statistics focused on aggressive driving behaviors. First, up to 80 percent of Americans admitted to feeling some form of rage while driving at least once over the last year. This is a shockingly high number.
Rage can lead to aggressive or reckless driving, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 56 percent of fatal crashes over a five-year period of time involved reckless driving.
Forms of aggression on the road
The umbrella of reckless driving term refers to numerous actions and behaviors, including aggressive driving behaviors.
Such behaviors typically include things like frequent lane changing with a propensity for cutting vehicles off, tailgating, speeding, racing beside other motorists and failure to adhere to traffic signs and signals.
Some people will also engage in excessive honking, yelling obscenities or even threatening to use violence against other drivers on the road.
How can you protect yourself?
First, never engage with aggressive drivers. Do not make eye contact. Do not retaliate. If possible, drive to a police station or a hospital when feeling particularly threatened.
When spotting a driver who seems aggressive, reckless and out of control, the best thing to do is get off to the side of the road until they pass and contact authorities, if possible, with their plate number. This can help get a threat off of the road.
