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How to Avoid Aggressive Drivers: Effective Methods to Combat the
Get out of their way and steer clear of them on Problem – and Its Causes
the road.
Stay relaxed. Remember that reaching your Police, government officials, trauma experts, and others
destination safely and calmly is your goal. in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and
Virginia have been concerned about aggressive drivers
Don’t challenge them. Avoid eye contact. for years. In looking for solutions, they created the
Ignore rude gestures and refuse to return them. Smooth Operator Program:
Give them the benefit of the doubt. Not all ❚ Today more than 300 law enforcement agencies
aggressive driving behavior is directed at you. coordinate efforts to target aggressive drivers, The Smooth Operator program is a
Don’t block the passing lane, especially if you conducting four enforcement “waves” over the public safety initiative providing solutions
are driving slower than most of the traffic. Move summer months. Since 1997, over 1.8 million for the problem of aggressive driving.
to the right lane. citations and warnings have been issued for
Dial #77 on a cell phone to report aggressive aggressive driving acts. smoothoperatorprogram.com
drivers or call your local police when you can. ❚ Enforcement waves coincide with advertising blitzes to
inform the public, stigmatize the behavior, and shame
aggressive drivers into respecting safety and the law.
❚ Other methods include development of high-
How to Avoid being an Aggressive Driver: technology law enforcement strategies and tools.
Smooth Operator Works.
Allow more travel time to get to your destination. ❚ Research and evaluations are conducted to study the To stop aggressive drivering.
It reduces stress dramatically. problem and solutions.
❚ The program is guided by an impressive array
To reduce crashes, injuries and
Come to a full stop at red lights and stop signs. fatalities.
Never run yellow lights. of professionals who meet regularly and
share information to better understand the To protect everyone on our roads.
Let other drivers merge with you. triggers and ways of curbing the threat.
Obey posted speed limits.
To make living, working, and
playing safer for all of us.
Don’t ever follow other drivers too closely.
Resist temptation to teach someone “a lesson.” The District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Concentrate on driving, not on cell phones, and Virginia are partnering through the Smooth
stereo, passengers or other distractions. Operator Program to combat aggressive driving.
Remember that you can’t control traffic, Law enforcement agencies, trauma experts,
but you can control yourself, your driving, and government officials and other professionals
your emotions. are working together to bring about change
and stigmatize aggressive driving behavior on
District of Columbia ❚ Maryland ❚ Pennsylvania ❚ Virginia our roads.
smoothoperatorprogram.com
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Ever Dr
Do You
Drive too fast, over the posted speed limit?
Roll through red lights or stop signs?
Weave in and out of traffic, or make
It’s Not Only Anger unsafe lane changes?
Impatience, hurrying, stress, irritation at something totally A Contagious Problem
unrelated to driving – these can all lead to unsafe driving Tailgate other vehicles?
Aggressive driving is highly contagious. When you watch
behavior. This endangers, infuriates, and antagonizes another driver’s offensive behavior on the road, or see
other drivers. When frustration and anger levels get high, them get away with violations of the law, it can make you These are the most dangerous aggressive
Aggressive Driving Is A Problem concern for fellow motorists becomes low. angry and frustrated and convince you that you, too, can driving behaviors. The fact is, most drivers
Aggressive driving has become a serious problem drive carelessly. drive this way at times. Anytime you hurry,
on our roadways. What is aggressive driving? Most Congestion Breeds Aggression React to an aggressive driver and you become part of the and become selfish, bold or pushy in your
of us know it when we see it. Aggressive driving is Crowded roads take extra time, raise frustration, and problem. Unsafe behavior passes from driver to driver
defined as occurring when “an individual commits reduce civility and good driving manners. This creates vehicle, you stop respecting the rights and
down the road.
a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to an environment that encourages conflict. Our roads are safety of other drivers and pedestrians.
endanger other persons or property.” so crowded that fender-benders, potholes, rain – even When you drive aggressively with children in the vehicle,
sun glare – can cause chain reactions of problems. Add you teach them to drive like you do, even before they
What Area Drivers Say: aggressive driving to the mix and you have a dangerous have a driver’s license. Kids learn by example. They’re
situation. constantly watching and learning.
❚ Aggressive drivers are one of the greatest threats
people face on the road – ahead of drunk driving, And always remember to buckle up. It is the best defense
large trucks, congestion, and other concerns.
Motorcycle Riders against an aggressive driver.
Aggressive driving by motorcycle riders is a growing
❚ 44 percent of drivers say other threats pale in problem on our roadways. Motorcycles are more powerful Around Larger Vehicles
comparison to aggressive driving. than ever before, and capable of dangerous speeds. Aggressive driving around trucks and buses is dangerous.
❚ Most drivers say they personally have seen Motorcycles racing through highway traffic is a crash They have larger blind spots and can not see drivers that
aggressive driving so dangerous that it puts waiting to happen and most motorcycle crashes result in are following too closely or speeding past them. Larger
others on the road at risk. injury or death. vehicles can not stop quickly; and, in a crash, a truck or
bus on a car is like a sledge hammer on a tin can. All
❚ 55 percent say the problem is getting worse.
drivers need to keep a safe distance from larger vehicles.
❚ Speeding plays a big role. Excessive speed is
involved in one third of all fatal crashes!
