An aggressive driver is one who is more likely to cause an accident. And even if that doesn’t happen, this type of person doesn’t make it enjoyable to be behind the wheel.
If you find yourself dealing with an aggressive driver, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Remove yourself from the situation: Rather than stay in close proximity to the person, do your best to create distance between your two vehicles. For example, if you run into trouble on the highway, slow down so that the other driver can move up the road ahead.
- Don’t retaliate: Your first thought may be to retaliate, but this will just anger the person more. Take a deep breath, keep your eyes on the road and remove yourself from the situation as quickly as you can. Once you do this, you’ll look back and be glad that you didn’t retaliate.
- Report the incident: Move to safety, call 911 and explain to the dispatcher what happened. This gets you away from the other person, while also helping protect other drivers. You don’t have to report every incident of aggressive driving, but if it’s serious you should consider doing so.
Taking these steps can help maintain your safety as a driver, but an accident is always possible. If an aggressive driver causes a crash, don’t attempt to converse with the person. Stay in your vehicle, call 911 and treat your injuries to the best of your ability.
Once you’re able to do so, review the police report, file an insurance claim and decide if you need to take additional action against the driver.