Road Rage: How to Avoid Aggressive Driving
Posted 8 May 2014 2:56 PM by Regan Billie
The road can be a dangerous place. Even if you are a safe and aware driver, there is still the threat of every other car on the road. Add in inclement weather, traffic, or construction and an aggressive driver can make traveling very dangerous. A fleet management system can help to keep track of your small business drivers while they are on the road. Fleetmatics offers reporting to identify when a vehicle is being driven aggressively- such as excess speeding, violent braking and jackrabbit starts. This visibility into your fleet can help manage how your vehicles are not only being driven, but also how they are representing your brand on the road. For example, it can hurt your business if one of your drivers is seen weaving or speeding on the road. Here are a few tips to identify "road ragers" and how to avoid them on the road.
What is aggressive driving?
You can identify an aggressive driver by observing behavior: -Any driver that is weaving aggressively throughout the lanes, even during heavy traffic -Any driver that is tailgating, despite having plenty of room to pass the vehicle in front -Any driver that honks at or openly taunts other drivers that are going the speed limit -Any driver that doesn't signal intent to switch lanes, which causes another driver to brake suddenly
How to avoid road rage
Here are a few tips to avoid aggressive driving and stay safe:
- Do NOT engage with "road ragers" If another driver cuts you off, don't respond by tailgating. This can enrage other drivers and escalate the situation.
- Don't make eye contact or any gestures to the driver.
- Try to stay out of an aggressive driver's way.
- In extreme cases, report the driver. If the driver is causing near-accidents or putting others in danger, it is important that they are stopped.
- Continue to drive safely by using appropriate turn signals, obeying the speed limit, and switching lanes with caution.
What other ways do you keep yourself safe on the road? Have you ever had to deal with an aggressive driver?
