Zero Fatalities: Aggressive Driving

Robert Hull, Utah Department of Transportation Director of Traf and Safety focuses this month on Aggressive driving on Studio 5.


Aggressive Driving vs. Road Rage


• There is a difference
Aggressive driving is a traffic offense; road rage is a criminal offense.

Road Rage

• Road rage is defined as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or an assault precipitated by an incident that occurred on a roadway.”

• Road rage requires willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others.

Aggressive driving means operating a vehicle in a way that endangers or is likely to endanger people or property. Most behaviors associated with aggressive driving are illegal.

* Speeding

* Running red lights

* Failure to yield

* Tailgating

* Weaving

• Speed reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, and extends the distance needed to safely stop a vehicle.

• Speed-related crashes are 3 times more likely to be fatal.




crash

2006
vs. 2007 Stats-

Crashes
with “Exceeded Posted Speed Limit”
or “Too Fast for Conditions”
given as a contributing circumstance

2006 2007
Non-injury
Crashes
4585 5465
Injury
Crashes 
2217 2344
Fatal
Crashes 
52 63
Total     
6854 7872
Percent
of All Crashes                      
12.2% 13.5%


PREVENTION TIPS:

• Relax. Tune the radio to your favorite relaxing music. Music can calm your nerves and help you to enjoy your time in the car.

• Drive the Posted Speed Limit. Fewer crashes occur when vehicles are traveling at or about the same speed.

• Identify Alternate Routes. Try mapping out an alternate route. Even if it looks longer on paper, you may find it is less congested.

• Use Public Transportation. Public transportation can give you some much-needed relief from life behind the wheel.

• Just be Late. If all else fails, just be late.


More information regarding Zero Fatalities can be found by visiting: www.zerofatalities.com

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