Defensive driving will give you peace of mind, as you know you’re taking steps to maintain your safety. Conversely, if you get into the habit of driving too aggressively, it puts you at risk of an accident.
There are many forms of aggressive driving, all of which you want to avoid. In some cases, you may not even realize that you’re making a big mistake. Here are three examples of aggressive driving:
- Excessive speeding: Everyone drives a bit over the speed limit from time to time, but doing this in excess is considered aggressive driving. For example, if the speed limit is 65 mph, driving 85 mph is extremely dangerous.
- Illegal passing: There are many examples of this, such as passing in the right lane on the highway or crossing over a solid traffic line in a city or rural setting.
- Tailgating: You should leave a comfortable amount of space between your vehicle and the one in front of yours. Getting too close will make the other driver nervous, while also increasing the risk of a rear end accident. It’s better to leave more space than necessary than not enough.
Even if you’re dedicated to avoiding these forms of aggressive driving, you may find yourself driving closely to others who don’t care to do the same.
Should an aggressive driver cause an accident, move to safety and call 911 for help. Don’t engage with the other driver, as they’re likely to become angry. Wait for help to arrive, receive medical treatment, review your insurance policy and take whatever steps you can to obtain compensation for the accident-related damages.
