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Campaign asks people to examine their driving behaviors

You’re not an aggressive driver, right? It’s the other guy who’s the road menace.

Tailgating, driving five miles or more over the speed limit, or speeding up to beat a yellow light may qualify you as an aggressive driver and the focus of a concerted safety campaign. An initiative is under way to encourage drivers to take an honest look at their own driving habits and minimize one of the largest causes of automobile crashes: aggressive driving. The Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety (OHS) sponsors the campaign.

“The truth is, most of us drive aggressively at one time or another, so since we’re all part of the problem, we need to be part of the solution,” says Mark Strait of OHS. “Driving aggressively only increases your chance of being in a crash.”

Aggressive driving includes risky behaviors such as following too close, driving too fast, running a red light, failing to yield the right of way or rolling through a stop sign. In simpler terms, people who drive as if they were 10 minutes late are considered aggressive drivers.

“Being in a hurry often makes us take risks that we shouldn’t,” says Strait. “Driving predictably, signaling before lane changes, staying within posted speed limits and keeping a safe following distance increases your safety.”

The multi-media awareness campaign includes simple, straightforward messages, such as “Running the red?” and “Tailgating?” Print materials offer drivers a quiz to help them determine if their driving behaviors would be considered aggressive and potentially dangerous.

Click here to take a simple quiz to find out if your driving behavior is putting you at risk.

Click here to learn more about how to protect yourself from aggressive drivers.

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