Drivers Behaving Badly
Every year, cars get safer. Today's modern vehicles offer unprecedented crash protection, anti-lock brakes, reinforced doors, high-mount brake lights, and air bags.
Yet despite safer cars and better roads, highway fatalities have remained at around 42,000 per year for the last five years. That's the equivalent of three jumbo jet airliners crashing every week!
What's the reason for this apparent contradiction? According to a recent survey, 60 percent of Americans think drivers are becoming more dangerous and more aggressive. Clinical psychologist Arnold Nerenberg backs up this perception, claiming that up to 50 percent of all drivers have what he calls "road rage disorder."
An Epidemic Of Anger
Chances are you've seen the ugly symptoms of road rage for yourself: horn honking, tailgating, headlight flashing, and obscene gestures. Unfortunately, some of these angry drivers cross the line from rudeness to deadly behavior.
"90 percent of all crashes are caused by driver errors," says Dr. Ricardo Martinez, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "And of those, two-thirds of fatalities and one-third of injury crashes are caused by aggressive driving – behavior such as tailgating, speeding, weaving in and out, and cutting in."
Despite the tragic results of their behavior, enraged drivers often feel justified, even proud, of their aggressive tactics – like pulling in front of someone and braking suddenly in retaliation. Everyday, impatient drivers are seen swerving recklessly, passing on the shoulder, and deliberately cutting off other drivers.
More Dangerous than a Gun
Usually designed to "teach someone a lesson," this childish behavior ranges from minor insults to full-fledged vehicular manslaughter. Each year, the number of drivers intentionally injuring or killing others in traffic disputes is increasing. In 35 percent of these attacks, the car itself was used as a weapon!
Who are these aggressive drivers? Just about anyone with a "king of the road" mentality and 3,000-pounds of steel to hide behind. "People who wouldn't dream of cutting in line at a bank or department store do just that on the roads," says Dr. Martinez.
"Because they are anonymous and cloaked in two tons of steel, people do things in their cars they never would do face-to-face," remarks Allan Williams of the Institute For Highway Safety. "Anyone who gets in their way can be damned."
How bad is the problem? Nobody knows exactly, but due in large part to aggressive behavior behind the wheel, drivers in America kill 120 people and injure 6,300 more every day, according to the National Safety Council.
As roads get more and more congested, your chances of confronting a frustrated driver are higher than ever. If you do encounter hostile behavior, follow these simple rules published in U.S. News & World Report:
1. Don't respond to provocation. When someone runs a red light or cuts you off, don't lean on the horn or shout an insult. It only amplifies the problem.
2. Remove yourself from the situation. If you notice the car behind you is too close, change lanes. Don't tap your brake as a warning – that's a hostile gesture that can trigger an incident.
3. Don't look at the offending driver. Don't glare, don't stare. Don't even look over. Once eye contact is made, the other person has been engaged.
4. Get help from somebody else. Sometimes, even if you ease into another lane, an angry driver may continue to harass you. Do not drive home. Instead, drive to a public place, such as a police or fire station – even a gas station. If you have got a cellular phone, call 911. Just seeing you use it could make the offending driver leave you alone.
Remember, drive defensively and be extra careful not to provoke others by your own actions. If you are injured by a drunk, reckless, or aggressive driver, call attorneys Goodwin & Scieszka immediately – at 1-888-GOODWIN -- for your free, confidential legal consultation.
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