Aggressive driving is a problem on the roads in the United States. People always seem to be in a hurry or running late, and many drivers have no qualms about speeding or ignoring traffic signals to their destination on time. Drivers also sometimes tend to take out their frustration and stress on other drivers. All of these practices are highly dangerous and create a much higher risk of auto accidents. If you are involved in an auto accident with an aggressive driver, a Coweta County car accident attorney can help you hold that driver responsible for his or her dangerous actions.
Aggressive driving has become such a high-risk problem that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has created a task force solely to research and study aggressive driving habits and motivations, and help law enforcement develop programs against aggressive driving. The NHTSA defines aggressive driving as when an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property. The NHSTA wants to make clear the distinction between aggressive driving and road rage, which is a criminal offense, and happens when an individual in one car uses the motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon for an assault on the operator or passenger of another motor vehicle, and the assault is usually caused by an incident that occurred on the roadway. Though road rage is an aggravated form of aggressive driving, the actions do not have to rise to the level as assault in order to be dangerous or to qualify as aggressive driving.
Common aggressive driving behaviors include:
- speeding
- failing to properly obey traffic signs or signals
- erratic or repeated, unnecessary lane changes
- following too closely
These behaviors can be highly dangerous as they put other drivers and passengers on the road at high risk for accidents. Specifically, running red lights is considered one of the most dangerous, often deadly, forms of aggressive driving. While law enforcement agencies and the NHTSA are doing what they can to try to stop aggressive driving, it still regularly takes place and causes accidents every day. If you are injured in an accident due to aggressive driving, the aggressive driver should have to pay for your injuries. An experienced car accident lawyer at Shane Smith Law can help you recover. Call today at (980) 246-2656 for a free initial consultation.