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NYC Tops National Poll for Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving is a category of dangerous driving behavior that is the underlying cause of many deadly auto accidents. This driving behavior is defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as operating a motor vehicle in a manner that is likely to endanger, or actually endangers, people or property. Aggressive driving is classified as a traffic violation, as distinguished from “road rage,” which is a criminal offense.

Regardless of how it is classified, aggressive driving puts everyone sharing the road at risk of serious injury or death. It has become a serious problem on our nation’s roadways, as reported by the NHTSA. The administration is providing guides, information, and planners to law enforcement agencies throughout the country in an attempt to stop aggressive driving.

Aggressive Driving in New York: A Major Cause of Auto Accidents

According to an article in Reuters, in an annual poll, New York has been voted the city with the angriest, most aggressive drivers in the nation. Voters in 25 major metropolitan areas awarded New York the “prize” for the most aggressive drivers who speed, tailgate, honk their horns, and overreact to traffic situations.

Aggressive driving behavior causes serious and fatal auto accidents. The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that researchers in an American Automobile Association study of data collected in NHTSA’s Fatal Accident Report System (FARS) found that aggressive driving contributed to 56% of all fatal crashes over a four-year period.

What Constitutes Aggressive Driving?

Aggressive driving typically involves a combination of moving traffic violations committed by a particular driver that endangers persons or property. Aggressive driving behavior may include:

  • Excessive speeding
  • Tailgating
  • Weaving in and out of traffic
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Running traffic lights and stop signs
  • Violating other motorists’ right-of-way

NHTSA explains that not all instances of aggressive driving behavior are intentional. Drivers who are distracted or inattentive may just fail to obey traffic signals. Judgment errors while executing a turn can result in right-of-way violations and auto accidents.

As we all know, aggressive driving is often intentional, and motivated by a number of factors. Factors contributing to intentional aggressive driving, as stated by NHTSA, include:

  • Traffic delays
  • Drivers running late
  • Anonymity
  • Disregard for the law
  • Predisposition to angry confrontation

While these factors may explain aggressive driving, they do not excuse it, especially when it results in an accident leading to injury of innocent drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

New York Auto Accident Attorney

Drivers who follow too closely, weave erratically in and out of traffic exceed the speed limit by 20 to 30 mph, run red lights and stop signs, and cut other drivers off in traffic are a serious hazard for other law-abiding drivers and their passengers.

If you have been seriously injured in a traffic crash caused by one of these negligent drivers, The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel can help. Contact our office to arrange for a free case consultation. Our seasoned New York auto accident lawyers are available to review your case and advise you of the potential value of your claim, the time expected to reach a resolution, and to answer any other questions you may have. We charge no legal fees unless we win for you, so there is no risk in connecting with us — call now for help.

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