Driving Dynamics is excited to kick off its new Safety & Risk column in Fleet Management weekly. We look forward to delivering exceptional and informative driver safety content each month.
There is probably not a day that goes by when you see someone taking unnecessary driving risks. If you are like most individuals, this can make you quite uncomfortable—maybe even angry at times. Without a doubt, aggressive driving is a serious and growing problem. It is rude, often illegal, and always dangerous. Speeding, tailgating, frequent and sudden lane changes, failure to yield right-of-way and disregarding traffic signals—these aggressive behaviors are contributing factors in more than 50 percent of all collisions.
This One Second Advantage™ safety tip addresses what triggers aggressive driving and its results. It also includes a few common sense techniques designed to keep yourself and the situation under control. Aggressive driving is identified by distinct behaviors that offend and potentially endanger other drivers and include the following:
• Excessive speeding
• Tailgating
• Cutting off other drivers
• Offensive gestures to other motorists
• Excessive lane changing
• Lane blocking
Have you ever involved yourself in any of these risky activities? Most aggressive driving behaviors are the result of stress and impatience. If you have ever put yourself in this situation, consider the serious adverse consequences that may result. Is it really worth the risk? The key to avoiding aggressive driving is simply: Be a safe and responsible driver. When you drive, you and only you are responsible for what you do. You have a responsibility not only to yourself and others in your vehicle, but to everyone else on the road. Being a responsible driver is an obligation—not a choice.
If you manage your emotions and your schedule before you get behind the wheel, you will be a much safer driver throughout your trip. A few suggestions:
• If you are already upset, do not get behind the wheel. Get your emotions under control before you turn the key.
• Do not drive when you are too tired, this can make you irritable and impatient.
• Plan your route, plan your time. Be sure you have plenty of time to get to your destination.
• Call ahead if you are running late. Do not try to make up the time when you are on the road.
Of course, you can never control, nor should you try to control, the actions of other drivers. Your job is to stay alert and avoid problems created by aggressive drivers. Make sure to always keep an adequate safety zone around your vehicle so there is sufficient time and space to react when confronted with hazardous situations. Remember that if you encounter someone who is acting irresponsibly, showing little concern for their own safety and that of others, the only thing you control is the way that you react.
About the Author
Safety & Risk is presented by Driving Dynamics, an accomplished provider of impactful driver safety training and risk management services. Continually building and delivering programs based on sound research, proven learning methodologies and expert instruction, we are dedicated to improving drivers’ abilities to stay safe by leveraging risk management tools, principle-based learning and applied techniques. The One Second Advantage™ safety training principle developed by Driving Dynamics is rooted in research that shows 90 percent of all traffic crashes can be avoided when the driver has just one more second to react and knows what to do with that additional second
Driving Dynamics encourages all drivers to Steer Toward Safety™
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