Aggressive driving can significantly increase your risk of getting into a car accident while traveling on New Jersey roads. Examples of aggressive driving may include following other vehicles too closely, traveling too fast for road conditions or making lane changes when it’s not safe to do so.
Why are these actions so dangerous?
Driving too closely to another vehicle makes it harder to take evasive actions if that vehicle slows down without warning. It can also be difficult to take evasive action if you are going too fast for road conditions. When roads are covered by ice or snow, slamming on the brakes can cause your car to spin out of control, and this might result in a car accident involving multiple vehicles.
Why do people drive in an unsafe manner?
In most cases, people drive in an unsafe manner because they didn’t give themselves enough time to reach their destination. It’s also possible that the stress of being stuck in traffic causes some individuals to act out. You may be especially vulnerable to stress on hot days, while driving home from a bad day or work or when traffic is moving slower than usual because of construction or an accident.
Steps that you can take to avoid aggressive driving
The easiest way to avoid the temptation to drive in an aggressive fashion is to give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. Doing so will help decrease your stress level and make it easier to focus on road conditions instead of the clock. It may also be in your best interest to travel on roads that you’re familiar with whenever possible. This can decrease the likelihood that you’ll need to make a sudden turn or lane change.
If you are involved in a crash caused by an aggressive driver, you may be able to receive compensation for medical bills or other damages. Video footage, witness statements and other types of evidence might be used to verify that a crash was caused by a negligent motorist.