Aggressive Driving
July 13, 2010 | in Helping You Drive SafelyHave you ever found yourself in a situation where someone is weaving in and out of traffic, where a driver cuts you off, where someone is braking erratically in front of you, etc?
Most people just put up with this behavior, but others take it personally and become aggressive in return. Don’t do this.
Always put yourself in the other drivers shoes. What if there really is an emergency, and they cut you off because they needed to get to the hospital. What if they were experiencing some form of distracted driving (i.e. a screaming child, a spilled drink, or food) and they’re braking erratically due to it.
Admittedly, its not always that easy and its not always the case. You do run across some very bad drivers out there all day long. Those drivers seem to care less about other drivers safety and are oblivious to anyone else on the road. That is when some basic defensive driving skills should take effect.
A few simple things to do to avoid getting involved with an aggressive driver.
1. In the morning, leave your house a few minutes earlier than you normally do. This will allow you to relax and take the rush out of your commute.
2. Remember, its not personal. Other drivers really aren’t out to get you. Lighten up.
3. Get plenty of sleep. Tired drivers are more likely to be aggressive drivers and if you’re tired you might be edgy and return the style.
4. Take a defensive driving refresher course. There are online driver safety courses that will provide better insight on how to handle aggressive drivers.