We live in a culture that demands quick and rapid response times, is it any wonder then that our driving habits also reflect that fast paced lifestyle. We are often in too much have a hurry to really have regards for road conditions, posted speed limits or other even drivers.
The state of Maryland along with Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia has initiated a program called the Smooth Operator Program aimed at combating aggressive drivers in the region. It gathers together Law Enforcement, Trauma Specialist, Government Official and other professionals to educate the public about the dangers of aggressive driving. For the past eight years the Smooth Operator Program has worked to provide education, information and solutions for the problem of aggressive driving. The plan calls for stepped up patrols, public education, research and evaluation of current campaigns and the engineering of roadways to cut down on aggressive driving.
Aggressive driving is defined by a combination of driving offenses committed by the unsafe driver, putting other people and property at risk. Aggressive driving can be classified into a number of dangerous behaviors.
Speeding Tailgating Running redlights and stop signs Improper passing Weaving in and out of lanesResearch has shown that its tendencies are spread out equally among car, SUV and motorcycles. Aggressive driving plays a major part in the crashes, injuries and fatalities we experience on our roads. It is estimated that 1,000 deaths a year can be attributed to aggressive driving that's about 3 highway deaths per day across the four jurisdictions where the Smooth Operator program is being conducted.
Aggressive driving has many causes, frustration, impatience and anger are a few. The sources of those emotions may include the following:
Crowded roads and highways Drivers with too much to do and little time Traffic tie-ups and roadwork Stress from work or home Drivers driving too slow Other drivers not being aware or distractedAggressive driving is contagious when you react to situations in an angry aggressive manner, you cause other drivers around you to follow suit. Unsafe behavior can have a domino effect, passing from one car to another down the road.
When you feel yourself becoming anxious or angry, don't let it lead to aggressive driving. Calm yourself and allow yourself a moment to understand that this is a temporary situation which will soon change, so be patient. Don't allow yourself to become angry at other drivers, it will not change their driving behavior, but it may change yours, and probably not for the better.
Ways to avoid being an aggressive driver:
Allow for more time to travel Come to a full stop at red lights and stop signs Let others merge with you Obey posted speed limits Don't tailgate Resist the urge to teach someone a lesson Concentrate on driving Don't stress over traffic of which you have no controlAggressive driving cost us all money in terms of higher auto insurance premiums. Insurance companies use the accident statistics from your geographical area to determine you auto insurance rates. The higher the accident rate the higher the premium. Generally speaking drivers in low congested areas like rural areas pay less for auto insurance than those living in highly congested urban areas. If you are paying for auto insurance in Maryland keep your cool and help fight to stop aggressive drivers, you can start with yourself.
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