Aggressive driving is on the rise and getting worse. Here’s how to stay safe
Bad drivers are back on the road and they're more dangerous than ever
We’ve all been there - you're driving along when suddenly a car flies up behind you. They’re on your bumper, there’s no lane for them to pass, and you’re already driving a bit over the speed limit. You may feel pressured to speed up or perhaps you’re scared they will hit you. Being tailgated is a high stress situation and it’s only one of many ways drivers show aggression.
Aggressive driving is a growing problem in the United States ever since the pandemic started. More people have since returned to the roads as they head back into their workplaces and schools, which has led to heavier traffic, but why are so many of these people angry? Violent? What is causing this uptick in reckless driving?
Have people forgotten how to drive?
That answer is no, they haven’t, at least according to Dr. Dwight Hennessy of Buffalo State College. He ensures that it would take just a few times for someone to get back on track with driving and re-learn their routes.
Photo by jon collier on Flickr
Boston.com surveyed over 400 of their readers and discovered that 67% believe traffic is worse post-lockdowns. Bad behavior includes excessive speeding, weaving, texting/distractions, tailgating, and an overall ignorance of basic road rules such as using the right lane to overtake instead of the left.
The article includes a lengthy list of comments from readers. One reader says that traffic signs and lights seem to be a mere “suggestion” to drivers who ignore them and drive right on through. Another claims that Boston roads have “zero traffic enforcement.” A simple Google search will show a resounding notion across the country that law enforcement is absent.
Feel free to participate in the poll at the end of this article about your experience with dangerous drivers.
Road laws have become a suggestion without traffic enforcement
If you’re in Colorado, you may not be surprised that speeding rose by 48% last year for speeds in excess of forty miles per hour over posted limits. Colorado, and other states, has had an increased problem with street racing, likely initiated by empty roads during lockdowns. This, along with a substance abuse epidemic, has led to an alarming surge in violent and fatal crashes.
An incident happened to me recently that sparked real concern. As I parallel parked in public, a car tried to pull in behind me. I moved into the next space to accommodate them.
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
The guy went ballistic, stopped in the middle of traffic and even exited his car. Absolutely bat-sh** insane. I was already parked and crossing the street yet he continued screaming and cursing at me, calling me every vile name in existence. He kept accusing me of not giving him enough room to park.
There was more than enough space for him to park a Cadillac Escalade or F-150 comfortably, but he drove a little Hyundai sedan. Everyone nearby was a witness and came to my side because they clearly saw the wide space. I was very fortunate for them because this man was so unhinged that I believed he would've physically attacked me. I’m small - I stand 5’2 - I’m an easy target.
He came into the shop I was in but didn’t say anything else. He stared at me like a rabid animal; his teeth were seething, the veins in his neck were popping. I’d never seen anyone so angry, especially over absolutely nothing. It was something I’ve only seen in viral videos and assumed it was rare, but turns out it may not be.
Photo on pxfuel.com
I’m trained professionally in defensive driving. It’s the only method I believe should be used and I feel strongly that everyone be required to learn its techniques. Defensive driving is not about being fearful and overly cautious, it’s about being smart.
Here are my defensive driving (and common sense) tips that will help you stay safe on the roads in this new, post-lockdown world of aggressive and dangerous drivers:
Never engage
Like a wild Karen, aggressive drivers live for a fight, so don't give them one. Avoid honking and giving rude gestures. Road rage can be the fault of all parties involved, so be aware of what you contribute to the situation.
You don't know who is in the other car, so don't provoke them. Road rage can end with fatal consequences, so it's best to ignore it and keep moving.
Obey the law, even if others don't
Stick to posted speed limits, but if traffic is moving too fast, stay to the right as much as possible. Don't speed up to please a tailgater (they will never be happy anyway). You may end up crashing and the tailgater will drive off on their merry way. Or you could end up injuring, even killing, a pedestrian who you don't see, so why risk that?
Look as far ahead as possible, keep a safe following distance, and pay attention to your surroundings. Don't be paranoid, but assume that everyone around you has no idea what they're doing (because likely, they don't).
Invest in a dash cam so that you'll always have proof of an incident and proof that you were driving safely.
Stay calm
Easier said than done, but it's vital. You can prepare yourself by watching road rage/bad driver videos (if it won't disturb you) and thinking about how you would handle the situation. Take them with a grain of salt, but study what bad drivers do (the dashcam drivers can be bad too!).
Find humor with it. Fear is a common first response, so train yourself to laugh instead. Think of some insults (which you should not repeat out loud) when someone is driving like a maniac. Remember, never engage and just ignore it.
If you feel unsafe, find a busy and well-lit area
This goes for any unsafe situation, but if you feel like you're being followed, go to a busy and well-lit area, or the nearest police station. Do not drive home.
If you feel threatened, call the police. Try to get a license plate identification and vehicle description. At least this information can be put into the police system as a record and for future reference.
We can't change bad drivers, but we can be safe drivers ourselves and stay calm in road rage situations that are becoming more frequent each day.
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Comments (82)
I’ve been saying this, we literally risk our lives going out on the road, people seriously don’t know how to drive and are so entitled. And not only are they impatient, but they are oblivious to other people and put them in serious danger.
I always see people overtaking someone on a two lane road where it’s not allowed, like come on, can’t you just be patient! And don’t even get me started on no one using their turn signals…
You're definitely not alone with what you've been noticing. I was surprised to see so much recent information online about aggressive driving across the country. I thought I was imagining it, but it's certainly real.
Let's go to a roadtrip in India!!! How's the idea
How do you know they're not just drafting for better fuel economy
Norm. That's why I'm starting to like enormous SUVs. If you can't be reasonable, feel free to bounce off. I've done a lot of miles in my almost 20 years of driving and seen a lot of idiots. One can be defensive, but it's worthless if one comes across an idiot.
Some of my family has had the same belief. I'd prefer to have a higher end model of a sedan instead of an base model SUV for a similar cost, but some family has said to get the SUV because they think a sedan will just get pushed around on the road....
Read moreOd course, I'm a sedan fan, as well, but time has come to rethink because of all the idiots om the road.
I'd say that people on the road have this attitude, because there's not enough control or the punishment for traffic violations is not enough. In both cases, drivers think they'll get away with it and this provokes the road rage. If you knew you would be caught and you'll lose your license, you won't do anything stupid. That's the case in most places around the world. I hate to say it, but cameras everywhere and super hard punishments for any violation are the only fitting solution.
I totally agree. If there were harsher punishments, there may be less. But since it's like no one gets stopped anymore, it's a free for all and will continue to get worse.
I once asked a cop why he wasn't stopping the people who were driving by...
Read moreYou said it's illegal in Pennsylvania . . does that mean it's not illegal in another US state??? 👀
I just give people the finger whenever they do something stupid to me or almost hit me
Road rage is a good answer, but not always cuz u don’t know if they want to pick a fight.
Be careful, there's a lot more crazy people out there lately.