Fayetteville Aggressive Driving Car Accident Attorneys
According to the Arkansas State Police (ASP), they carried out 520 collision investigations resulting in fatalities. This figure dropped in 2019 down to 505. However, but 2020 the crash statistics had shot up by 27 percent, and 641 deaths were recorded. Of the 641 crashes, 14 percent of those were the result of excessive speed or aggressive driving. In 2021 the police say they investigated over 330 deaths. More than half of those who perished on our roadways may have been innocent victims.
The figures also show that in 2019 1,064 citations were handed out. In 2020 there were 2,030. In 2021 some 2,380 citations were handed out to aggressive drivers at speeds as high as 160 mph. Speeding aggressively appears not to be the only problem involved with aggressive driving incidents.
The ASP has reported acts of violence in connection with aggressive driving accidents, including gunfire at and between moving vehicles. Additionally, road rage can include giving people the finger, throwing objects, ramming, and side-swiping. The Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) suggests speeding is responsible for one out of every three crashes.
What Aggressive Driving Looks Like in Arkansas
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving is defined as the combination of moving traffic offenses that endanger the lives of a person(s) or property. Furthermore, in a five-year review, aggressive driving was a factor in approximately 56 percent of fatal accidents.
The cause of road rage is Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), defined by the Mayo Clinic as: “…repeated, sudden episodes of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry verbal outbursts in which [an individual] reacts grossly out of proportion to the situation.
Road rage or aggressive driving includes, but is not limited to:
- Brake checking
- Blocking cars trying to pass or change lanes
- Confrontational body language
- Cutting other drivers off
- Driving on the shoulder, median, or sidewalk
- Erratic driving, operating the vehicle in a reckless or careless manner
- Excessive honking
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Failure to obey safety zones
- Flashing headlights or high beams
- Illegal passing
- Ignoring traffic signals and signs
- Not using turn signals
- Racing
- Running red lights
- Running stop signs
- Speeding
- Tailgating or following improperly
- Weaving in and out of traffic
Common Signs of Aggressive Driving on Fayetteville Roads
Aggressive driving is far more common than we would like to think. In a study conducted by the AAA Foundation, the annual traffic safety culture index, millions of drivers engage in road rage driving.
Those behaviors include:
- Rapidly switching lanes or doing so very close to another vehicle – was done by 57 million drivers
- Seventy-one million drivers honked at or obscenely gestured to other drivers.
- At least 106 million drivers speed up to travel at 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway.
- Sixty-eight million Americans drive through red lights.
- Forty-nine million drivers cut in front of a vehicle at less than a car’s length.
- At least 55 million drivers sped up when another vehicle tried to overtake them.
- Seventy-five million drivers followed a vehicle very close to prevent another vehicle from merging in front of them.
- Sixty-two million drivers moved to close the gap between vehicles.
What To Do If There Is Aggressive Driving on The Road
It is often the case that aggressive drivers irk others to the same level of hostility – a vicious circle that does not do anyone any good. Anger fueled by aggression and reckless driving can turn into a serious car accident. Combativeness is never the answer to dealing with an aggressive driver.
There are ways to diffuse aggressive drivers. They include the following:
- Call 911
- Stay a safe distance back.
- Do not make eye contact.
- Only change lanes when it is clear and safe to do so.
- Avoid passing unless necessary.
- If there is no way to avoid the aggressive driver, hold your position and maintain the proper speed, and ignore any gestures.
If you witness aggressive driving while on Arkansas highways, do not hesitate to report it to the nearest Highway Patrol Division Troop Headquarters. The 12 divisions and local phone numbers and contacts can be found HERE.
Next, contact an experienced Fayetteville aggressive driving car accident attorney to help you navigate the next step legal steps.
Contact the Fayetteville Office of Jason M. Hatfield Today
If you were involved in a Fayetteville aggressive driving car accident, call us at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield at (479) 361-3575. Our dedicated team of road rage car accident lawyers is here to help.
Call us today for a free initial consultation and to find out what you can expect should you file a personal injury lawsuit. We know you have questions, and we can answer them for you. The Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield is just one quick call away: (479) 361-3575.