Aggressive driving is responsible for a majority of auto. In fact, 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving (NHTSA). An important DMV written test question to understand is:
Aggressive driving can be defined as operating a vehicle deliberately in a manner that is likely to endanger other road users. It also means to increases the risk of collision between vehicles on the road.
Source: https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/aggdrivingenf/pages/introduction.html
Table of Contents
Example DMV test question
Aggressive driving can be defined as operating a vehicle in a manner that is likely to:
❌ A. Get you to your destination faster
✅ B. Endanger other road users. It also means to increases the risk of collision between vehicles on the road.
❌ C. Make the roads safer
What is aggressive driving?
Aggressive driving occurs when an individual intentionally commits an action that endangers other persons or property. Aggressive driving examples are speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, improper signaling, and failing to obey traffic signals and warning lights. (Source: Ohio Driver Manual 2023)
According to the NHTSA, these are the most common forms of aggressive driving:
- Speeding
- Dodging in and out of traffic
- Passing on the right
- Running stop signs or red lights
- Tailgating
- Cutting other drivers off or ignoring the right of way
I’ve seen it on the road time and time again, aggressive driving followed by some honking, mean looks and maybe a few hand gestures. In the wrong hands, a vehicle can be very dangerous and it’s important to keep a cool head.
What causes aggressive driving?
Now that we know the forms of aggressive driving we can talk about why people tend to drive aggressively. The most common form I’ve seen is just people being late. All of us are driving because we have somewhere we’d like to go- and nobody likes to be late. Being late can cause irrational driving behavior, mostly speeding, but also the majority of the forms in the bullet list above.
How to not be an aggressive driver
If you find yourself in a position of being late, NEVER resort to forms of aggressive driving. Even if nobody else is on the road you can still be a threat to yourself and others by endangering persons or property.
It may be a good idea to take a course on defensive driving. Defensive driving puts more of the control in your hands and helps you stay safer on the road. I pride myself on being a defensive driver because I know that I’ve seen so many irrational drivers on the road myself.
Below is a list from Geico on ways to be a defensive driver:
- Plan ahead
- Always scan your surroundings
- Brake early
- Never go on the offensive
- Don’t get distracted
Stick to these rules and you will give yourself a much better chance of avoiding aggressive drivers as best as you can. If you see somebody tailgating and swerving in an aggressive manner, just slow down and separate yourself from that vehicle in a safe way.
Since we can define aggressive driving as operating a vehicle deliberately in a manner that is likely to endanger other road users- the next step is knowing that defensive driving gives you the best chance to avoid these types of aggressive drivers out on the road. Stay safe out there!
