Drivers know it when they see it. Cars racing down a crowded road, darting in and out of lanes, tailgating, and drivers yelling and gesturing at others are all behaviors that are recognized as aggressive driving. In some instances the driving behavior escalates into assault with the vehicle itself or with a weapon, increasing the severity of the event from a traffic incident to a criminal offense. Drivers are becoming more and more fearful of the threat of violence on the highways and evidence indicates these incidents are occurring with greater frequency. The media regularly report about serious incidents. Growing concerns about these drivers and the hazards they create on the roads have lead to a flurry of activity by safety groups, law enforcement, mental health professionals and legislatures. Although some argue that aggressive driving is not new, that these driving behaviors have always existed except now the media have given it a catchy name and are drawing attention to these behaviors. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that aggressive driving and its causes have been "rediscovered" in the 1990s. Hostility on the road has been a continuing problem in one form or another for most of this century. Although, it is a problem that needs to be addressed and the Institute supports enforcement techniques such as photo radar and red light cameras to reduce the types of violations that are often associated with aggressive driving. This report examines definitions of aggressive driving, the psychological theories about this behavior, law enforcement programs and other efforts aimed at aggressive driving, and state legislative activity. (Author/publisher)
Abstract