Are You an Angry and Aggressive Driver Behind the Wheel?
Do you consider yourself an angry and aggressive driver behind the wheel or are you patient, reserved, and courteous? Well, sometimes that’s a tough question to answer ourselves – it may take another driver’s opinion of us to fully describe which type of driver we are. We may not notice our behavior as a hazard to others’ safety on the road until we get pulled over by law enforcement, get the citation, and watch helplessly as our auto insurance rates go up.
There are obvious signs as to the type of driver you are. Just answer the following questions and you’ll know fairly quickly. Do you:
Get easily frustrated
You’re stuck in traffic or behind a slower car. Do you take out your anger or frustration on other drivers, putting them or yourself at risk to prove your point?
Show no concern driving distracted
You’re reading, eating, consuming a beverage, talking or texting on the phone. You’re a major crash waiting to happen. Do you respond with anger if another driver honks at you for being on the phone?
Tailgate
That’s a simple one. Following too closely is a major cause of accidents, often resulting in injuries or death.
Constantly change lanes
You can’t sit still in one lane. Everyone is driving too slowly for your liking, so you whip in and out of traffic, cutting people off just to get ahead.
Run red lights
Not only is this habit dangerous, it shows absolutely no regard for your safety or the safety of other motorists.
Speeding
We’ve all been guilty of this one at least once. However, driving at excessive speed is a ticket waiting to happen.
If you answered “yes” to more than one of the questions above…you might be an aggressive driver – but, you don’t have to be. There are things you can do to change that, such as:
Keep your cool
Getting angry and frustrated won’t make things go faster. Take a deep breath and realize – it is what it is. Accept things and wait it out. You’ll still get there.
Concentrate on driving
Try to pay attention to what you’re doing behind the wheel by not allowing yourself to get distracted. That means…do not talk on your cell phone or text while driving. Also, avoid eating, drinking or applying make-up.
Relax and stay calm
It can be tough sometimes, but give it a try. Play music on the radio or CD player. Choose something relaxing or that you enjoy. Avoid talk radio programs that discuss heated political topics that tend to get you riled up.
Plan ahead and give yourself extra time
By planning ahead and leaving earlier, you can give yourself extra time to get where you’re going. That might include mapping out alternate routes that may save you time and congested traffic.
Cut back on tailgating, speeding, and running red lights
The odds are against you. The more you participate in such behavior the greater your chance of having a serious accident because of it. If you’re late…you’re late. Better getting there late – than not at all.
In the end, the way you act behind the wheel affects your safety and your insurance premiums. “Stay calm” when driving is good advice…but, so is – make sure you’re getting the best rate on your auto insurance. Why not get a free auto insurance quote today?