Aggressive driving is one of the more common types of behavior that you will see on the roads. Unlike other serious infractions like drunk driving, drowsy driving, or distracted driving, it is one that even many sensible and responsible drivers may have engaged in at one time or another. Perhaps you aggressively overtake a driver you feel is going too slowly. Maybe you drive faster than usual because you are running late for an appointment. The point is that many people drive aggressively every now and then.
The Effects of Aggressive Driving
All forms of aggressive driving are dangerous because they increase the risk that the driver will lose control of their vehicle. Furthermore, they reduce the reaction times for everyone on the road, including the aggressive driver. Speeding is the most common kind of aggressive driving and is responsible for the majority of aggressive driving accidents; in 2018 speeding was the cause of nearly 10,000 traffic fatalities. Other kinds of aggressive driving cause fatal accidents as well. The following incidents and the number of fatal aggressive driving accidents they caused were recorded by the National Highway Traffic Association (NHTSA) in 2017:
- Failure to Yield The Right of Way – 3,711 deaths
- Operating Their Vehicle in a Careless Manner – 2,961 deaths
- Failure to Obey Traffic Signs or Signals – 2,095 deaths
- Driving in a Reckless, Erratic, or Negligent Way – 1,996 deaths
You can see that aggressive driving results in thousands of deaths per year, which means that an overly and consistently aggressive driver is likely to cause a fatal accident. That is why it is vital that you contact the Pendergrass Law Firm as soon as possible if you or a loved one was involved in an aggressive driving accident.
