Aggressive Driving: A Danger to Public Health

Drivers who turn aggressive while behind the wheel are a danger to other motorists on Wisconsin’s streets and highways. Tailgating, speeding, weaving in and out of lanes and other reckless conduct create an extreme hazard for other drivers on our roads and highways.

Aggressive Driving Study

A study issued in 2012 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed unsettling facts about aggressive driving behavior — and the high risks for other drivers who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that aggressive driving accounts for more than half of all traffic fatalities.
Speeding is one of the most dangerous types of aggressive driving behaviors. A staggering 50% of drivers admit to speeding and 25% of motorists feel that speeding is acceptable.
Aggressive driving has been implicated as contributing factor in almost one-third of all fatal car accidents in the United States every year.

Sidebar: Extreme Aggressive Driving — Road Rage

What is road rage? Cases of “road rage” have been responsible for many deadly car crashes. Road rage is defined as driving actions that involve a showing of hostility and anger to other drivers. A normally friendly person may experience a change in personality when behind the wheel of a vehicle. He or she may become aggressive, hostile and take risks that endanger others on the road with them.

How to spot road rage. Signs of road rage include taking frustrations out on other drivers, a failure to pay attention to the safety of others, tailgating, frequent lane changes and running red lights, and most commonly, speeding.

What to do. If you are confronted by an aggressive driver, it is strongly advised that you get out of the way, do not challenge that driver in any of your actions, avoid eye contact, and do not respond to rude gestures. If you observe an aggressive driver, get out of the way and contact local law enforcement – you could save a life.

The Role of Aggressive Driving in Fatal Crashes

Aggressive driving behavior has led to many deaths and severe injuries. The NHTSA reports several driver-related factors may show an accident involved aggressive driving. These factors include:

Improper following of another vehicle (tailgating);
Improper or erratic lane changes;
Driving illegally on a shoulder, ditch, sidewalk or median;
Passing in areas in which it is prohibited, such as a hill or curve or around school buses;
Passing on the wrong side;
Passing with insufficient distance to safely do so;
Passing with inadequate visibility;
Failing to yield to an overtaking vehicle;
Failing to yield right of way as required;
Failing to obey traffic signs, officers, safety zones and traffic control devices;
Driving too fast for road or weather conditions;
Racing;
Speeding and ignoring posted speed limits;
Making improper turns.

Most Dangerous Aggressive Driving

The most consistently dangerous form of aggressive driving is speeding, whether over the posted speed limit or too fast for the driving conditions. That behavior plays a role in 30.7% of fatal accidents. Failure to yield right of way was listed as a factor in 11.4% of fatal accidents. Reckless, careless or erratic driving was cited as a factor in 7.4% of fatal accidents reviewed in the NHTSA report.

Your Legal Options

At Gruber Law Offices in Milwaukee, our legal team is committed to helping the injured or families who have lost a loved one. Aggressive driving is negligent driving, and the vehicle operator who took these risks must be held accountable for justice to be served.

Here’s how we can help you:

Our first step is to speak with you and listen to what happened.
When we take on any car accident case in Wisconsin, we give it our full focus and attention.
With 16 personal injury lawyers, we have the resources available to assist you properly, and as you deserve.
We’ll help you understand what insurance coverage you may have for your injuries.
We’ll collect police car accident reports and other documents necessary to show the other driver was at fault.
We’ll find out what insurance coverage is available from the driver who caused your accident.
We’ll negotiate with the insurance adjusters on both sides of the case.
We’ll file all paperwork with the court system to protect your legal rights.
We’ll work to negotiate a fair settlement for your damages.
If a settlement cannot be reached, our lawyers will represent you in Wisconsin’s courtrooms.

Contact us today for more information about your case. Aggressive driving injury cases are taken on a contingency fee basis – if we don’t win, you owe no attorney’s fees. We are committed to you and your loved ones’ future and well-being. Call now to speak with an attorney and receive a free consultation.

From our office in Milwaukee we serve all of southeastern Wisconsin, including Kenosha, Madison, Racine and Waukesha.

Sources

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Aggressive

http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/aggressive/Aggressive%20Web/brochure.html

https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/AggressiveDrivingResearchUpdate2009.pdf

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