Insurance InsightMIKE WILLIAMS / L’Observateur / September 6, 2000Aggressive driving is one of America’s most talked-about traffic safety issues. Rude drivers, tailgating, blocking, cutting you off when you want topass, weaving through traffic. It’s hostile out there!It is reported that aggressive driving accounts for about one of every five crashes with injuries – a yearly average of 1,500 deaths, 800 injuries and $2.4 billion in medical costs, property damage and lost time from work. Onceagain, our choices affect insurance rates.
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 6, 2000
One major reason for aggressive driving seems to be traffic congestion.
Road construction and improvement lags behind the ever-increasing number of cars on the road. In many cities, rush hour has been replaced withgridlock. Roads are packed at drive times to and from work.Another factor may be our fast-paced lives – always in a hurry. This maylead to speeding and aggressive behavior toward others that are “messing up” our schedule.
Keep the following in mind to help reduce aggressive driving incidents: If someone provokes you, take a deep breath and resist the urge to retaliate.
Don’t tailgate.
Avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver.
Be aware of negative body language and gesturing.
Use your horn sparingly.
Don’t block a passing lane. Avoid blocking a right-turn lane. Signal before switching lanes.
Don’t weave in an out of traffic.
Allow adequate rest for your trip.
Realize that you can’t control traffic, only your reaction to it.
When parking take up only one space.
When opening your car door, don’t hit the car parked next to yours.
Remember, our own behavior often affects insurance rates and our own safety.
MIKE WILLIAMS, who writes this column every Wednesday for L’Observateur, is a local agent with State Farm Insurance.
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