Aggressive Drivers (Road Rage)
Aggressive driving (road
rage) is on the rise and has attributed to a variety
of motor vehicle involved incidents including
accidents and assaults. The North Bergen Police
Department is well aware of the inherent dangers
associated with this kind of behavior and is
actively pursuing and enforcing traffic violations
related to aggressive driving.
WHO ARE THEY?
Here's what we know about them:
- These high risk drivers climb
into the anonymity of an automobile and take out
their frustrations on anybody at any time.
- Their frustration levels are
high, and level of concern for fellow motorists
is low.
- They run stop signs and red
lights, speed, tailgate, weave in and out of
traffic, pass on the right, make improper and
unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial
gestures, scream, honk, and flash their lights.
- They drive at speeds far in
excess of the norm which causes them to:
- follow too closely
- change lanes frequently and abruptly without
notice or signals
- pass on the shoulder or unpaved portions of
the roadway
- threaten motorists (verbally, gestures) who
are "thoughtless" enough to be in - front of
them
WHEN CONFRONTED BY AGGRESSIVE
DRIVERS:
First and foremost make every attempt to
get out of their way!
Put your pride in the back seat.
Do not challenge them
by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in
your travel lane.
Wear your seat belt. It
will it hold you in your seat and behind the wheel
in case you need to make an abrupt driving maneuver
and it will protect you in a crash.
Avoid eye contact.
Ignore gestures and
refuse to return them.
Report aggressive drivers
to the appropriate authorities by providing a
vehicle description, license number, location, and
if possible, direction of travel.
If you have a mobile phone, and can do it safely, call the police (i.e. 9-1-1 or #77).
If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash
farther down the road, stop a safe distance from the
crash scene, wait for the police to arrive and
report the driving behavior
that you witnessed.
Adopted from National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration documents. |
09.11.2001