How to deal with aggressive drivers
Common aggressive driving behaviors
- Running stop signs and red lights
- Speeding, tailgating, and weaving between lanes
- Passing on the right of a vehicle
- Making inappropriate hand and facial gestures
- Screaming, honking the horn, and flashing headlights
If you are confronted by an aggressive driver, or witness aggressive driving behavior, follow these guidelines:
- Make every attempt to safely move out of the aggressive driver's way.
- Do not challenge an aggressive driver by speeding up or attempting to "hold your own" in the travel lane.
- Always wear your seat belt - not only will it hold you in your seat and behind the wheel in case you need to make an abrupt driving maneuver, but it will also protect you in a crash.
- Avoid eye contact with the aggressive driver.
- Ignore gestures, and refuse to return them.
- Report aggressive drivers to teh appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, license number, location and, if possible, direction of travel.
- If you have a cellular phone, and can use it while driving safely, call the police. Many have special numbers such as 9-1-1 or #-7-7.
- If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash farther down the road, stop at a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for the police to arrive, and report the driving behavior that you witnessed.