Aggressive Driving is One of the Greatest Threats on the Road

Most New Yorkers are in a hurry to get to their destinations. This sense of “being in a rush” can lead to unsafe driving behaviors, including aggressive driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted a study that examined the link between aggressive driving and fatal car accidents. According to the findings, aggressive driving played a role in 56 percent of fatal auto accidents from 2003 through 2007.

Aggressive driving is a concern for many motorists. A telephone survey in 2005 by ABC News and The Washington Post discovered that 32 percent of respondents feel that aggressive drivers are the greatest threat when asked what most endangers their safety on the road. For some reason though this concern often applies to “the other guy” and not the drivers themselves. They appear to commit some of the very actions that they condemn in other drivers.

There are many definitions of aggressive driving, including the one created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” AAA believes that “any unsafe driving behavior, performed deliberately and with ill intention or disregard for safety, can constitute aggressive driving.”

Researchers relied solely on the driver’s actions when examining crash data and reports. One of the reasons for this focus is that there is very little information about the drivers’ motivations and intentions that resulted in aggressive driving.

Some of the examples of aggressive driving include:

Excessive speed (number one factor)
Running a red light or stop sign
Tailgating
Failure to yield the right of way
Not allowing other vehicles to pass

If you have been injured in a New York car accident caused by an aggressive driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Contact the New York accident attorneys at Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine today at 800.734.9445 for more information and for a case evaluation.