Are You an Aggressive Driver?
Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, writes about aggressive driving this month on its Traffic Safety Culture blog. February is Aggressive Driving Awareness Month, which makes it a good time for motorists to reflect on their habits while driving and also to learn what to do when they encounter an aggressive driver, Kissinger says.
After all, he writes, "Ask someone if they've ever experienced 'road rage' and most will have a story to share involving an aggressive driver, but too many people think 'the other guy' is the problem and don't see how their own driving behaviors could be seen as aggressive to others.
"When drivers are asked what angers them most, the results are remarkably consistent -- being cut off, driving slowly in the left lane, tailgating and making obscene gestures always top the list. If you find yourself doing any of these on a regular basis, this quiz can help you determine if you might be an aggressive driver."
I took the quiz, answering as honestly as I could, and had a low rating for aggressiveness in all four categories. I scored 4 out of a possible maximum of 120 points. FYI, you must enter an email address for the quiz to be scored.
When you encounter a driver who is acting aggressively, "[t]he safest thing to do is to give the driver lots of room and not to engage -- one angry driver can't start a fight unless another driver is willing to join in," Kissinger writes. "Steer clear of the driver, avoid eye contact, and if the behavior continues, drive to a populated area and call the police."
The foundation was created in 1947 by AAA as an independent, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable organization to conduct research on the causes of traffic deaths and injuries and educate the public about how to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur.
Posted by Jerry Laws on Feb 20, 2012