There are thousands of car accidents in Alabama every year, many of which result in fatalities. Although a number of factors contribute to these unfortunate deaths, such as inclement weather or mechanical issues, the leading cause is something altogether avoidable: aggressive driving. 66% of traffic fatalities in the U.S. are caused by aggressive driving. In 2014 alone, that amounted to more than 20,000 deaths. We’ve all lost our temper from time-to-time on the road, but keeping your cool just might save your life. Here are 3 tips for defusing aggressive drivers:
- Move over. Tailgating drivers are a nuisance. They endanger the lives of their passengers, as well as the other drivers on the road. Resist the urge to speed up or slow down and simply move over to let them pass. Their rush isn’t worth your death.
- Keep your cool. Don’t let an aggressive driver dictate how you react. If someone acts aggressively toward you on the highway, don’t respond. Engaging in an argument or fight puts you just as much at fault as the individual who started it.
- Don’t Lay on the Horn. The car horn is actually a very useful tool when used properly. For instance, it can be used to warn another driver that may not see you in order to avoid an accident. It shouldn’t be used as a way to lash out when another driver does something you don’t approve of. Use your horn sparingly to avoid unnecessary conflict on the road.