Aggressive drivers remain a concern in Wisconsin

April 16, 2014 (Press-News.org) According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, in 2012 approximately 2.36 million people were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Further, approximately $32 billion was spent on medical expenses arising from motor vehicle accidents. Chillingly, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) advises that approximately one-third of all highway crashes are now attributable to aggressive driving behavior.

Whether driving on Interstate 43, or on a relatively quiet rural road, one of the most frightening things to encounter is an aggressive driver. At one time or another every motorist has looked into their rear view mirror and noticed a vehicle barreling toward them at a high speed. Sometimes the road rage warrior swerves in and out of traffic with no indication of when the next lane change is coming. Most drivers have had the unpleasant experience of an aggressive driver "tailgating" their vehicle with the vehicle seeming to hover just inches from the rear bumper.

The NCSL reports that aggressive driving behaviors which can cause car accidents include:
- Speeding
- Erratic lane changes
- Running red lights
- Tailgating
- Preventing others from passing

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines aggressive driving broadly as whenever "an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property."

Aggressive driving is a concern for everyone as it needlessly endangers anyone unlucky enough to be traveling near the offending driver. AAA, in its recently released 2013 Traffic Safety Culture Index, states that it has found that the majority of Americans now believe that aggressive driving is a much bigger safety issue than it was just three years ago.

Staying safe

The good news for drivers is that the State of Wisconsin Federal Fiscal Year 2014 Highway Safety Plan makes it clear that initiatives aimed at curbing aggressive driving will be vigorously pursued as part of Wisconsin's 2014 -2016 Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

The DOT offers good advice for situations where you encounter a rude or aggressive driver. First, do not give in to the temptation to teach the aggressive driver a lesson. Second, simply ignore the aggressive driver's rude or obscene hand gestures and impatient horn honking. Third, back off and do not make eye contact with nor acknowledge the rude driver. Finally, if you can do it safely, report the aggressive driver by giving law enforcement a description of the car, its license plate number and the direction in which it was traveling.

Nobody wins in a tit-for-tat exchange on our roads and escalating road rage incidents can lead to serious injuries or deaths. Remember to always wear your seatbelt when traveling on our highways. In the event of a collision with an aggressive driver, your seatbelt offers you the best protection against serious and debilitating injuries.

Pursuing a Wisconsin action for auto collision injury

Unfortunately, even though you may be a careful and prudent driver, others are not. Sometimes careful motorists are, through no fault of their own, involved in a collision caused by an aggressive driver.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by a reckless driver, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Determining precisely what caused a collision is often more complex then it first appears. Only an experienced personal injury attorney can investigate the facts and help you determine how to best protect your rights. By hiring an experienced lawyer you can rest assured that you and your family will have help in recovering compensation for any injuries and other losses you sustained.

Article provided by Domnitz & Skemp, S.C.
Visit us at www.domnitzlaw.com