What Are Three Types of Aggressive Drivers?

Updated on January 26, 2021

Whether you drive every day to commute to and from school and work, or you only have to leave the house occasionally because you’re working from home, you’ve likely encountered an aggressive driver. We’ve all experienced that jerk who tailgates and weaves in and out of traffic at one time or another. Aggressive drivers tend to fall into three main categories:

  • Quiet road ragers-they try to race you, won’t let you merge into a lane, or follow you too closely;
  • Verbal road ragers-they yell and curse at you, they honk their horns incessantly, they stare at you as they pass you
  • Epic road ragers-they cut you off, block you, chase you, and get out of their cars to shoot or fight you

It’s important to look out for aggressive drivers while you’re on the road so you can avoid them if possible. Here is more information about dangerous drivers and how you can avoid an accident or assault.

More About Road Rage

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving is the combined action of endangering people or property and committing moving traffic offenses. The administration states that aggressive drivers are the reason for around 56% of fatal car crashes in a five-year review from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System

More than 50% of the people who have died in car accidents were likely innocent victims of road rage. This means that aggressive driving affects hundreds of people every year.

There are several reasons people display aggressiveness while driving. According to a recent study, aggressive driving can also be classified as IED or intermittent explosive disorder. People with IED often experience stress in other parts of their lives that make them act especially angry and impatient on the road.

Speeding

You’ve likely encountered a driver who worked so hard to speed past you only to be stopped by another car or a red light. Speeding can be very dangerous since you may not have time to stop your car or avoid a vehicle crash. The Governor’s Highway Association states that speeding is the cause of one in three accidents.

We often speed if we’re running late or in a rush. However, you don’t have as much time to react when you’re speeding, which means you could hit objects in the road or rear-end someone. One of the ways to protect your car and yourself is to use dash camera.

The speech abilities and engine size of an automobile could be factors that you’re looking for when purchasing a new car. A vehicle that is designed to go fast is often appealing to teenagers and young men. These are, unfortunately, the two groups that die most often in car accidents.

When it comes to car accidents, higher speeds mean more severe damage to the cars in the accident. High speeds can also cause more severe injuries to those in the vehicle. Accidents that occur as a result of speeding can result in spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, and facial burns and cuts.

Tailgating

Cars are designed to go pretty fast. So, it’s logical to be impatient or annoyed when you’re stuck in slow traffic. Many people express their frustration in traffic by driving as close to the rear of a car as possible, which is known as tailgating. This is one of the main reasons for a rear-end collision.

When you drive too close, your reaction times are shorter than they should be. This could have dangerous and life-threatening results depending on the weight and size of the automobiles involved. If there isn’t adequate space between your vehicle and a semi-truck or tractor-trailer, the collision could be fatal.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by road rage, you can get a free case evaluation today from a law firm that has been defending car accident victims since 1972. Contact your local attorney’s office to explain your situation. A personal injury lawyer will review the details and let you know if you have a case. 

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