STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It’s been a stressful year -- to say the least.
As 2020 winds to a close, the everyday stresses of living through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are now being compounded by the annual angst that accompanies the holiday season.
Though in-store shopping isn’t what it once was, and people will be attending far fewer Christmas parties this year, the added hustle and bustle of the holiday season, coupled with freezing temperatures and worsening roadway conditions, can lead to reckless and potentially harmful driving behavior this time of year.
“A driver may be stressed or react wrongly to another driver’s action on any given day, and the holidays can add to the strain and anxiety. Introduce the pressures and concerns tied to a global pandemic, and even the calmest, most safety-conscious drivers can find themselves frustrated by other motorists,” according to AAA.
To help avoid any potential conflicts during what’s meant to be the happiest time of year, AAA offers tips that can help you manage aggressive driver scenarios.
First and foremost, drivers should never cause another motorist to change their speed or direction. This means don’t cut people off and force them to either slam on their brakes or quickly merge into another lane.
Drivers should also resist responding in the event of encountering an aggressive driver. This means no eye contact, horn honking, finger flipping or anything that can be interpreted as antagonistic.
Finally, drivers are advised to simply be tolerant and forgiving. Any aggressive driving behavior exhibited by another motorist is likely a result of their own frustration and should not be taken personally.
“If you encounter an aggressive driver on the road or find your temper rising, remember to slow yourself down, breathe deeply, and safely create distance between you and other motorists. Aggressive drivers are likely not thinking about their potential impact on others until it is too late,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy.
Among the most common aggressive driving behaviors are speeding, following too closely, honking or making rude gestures, blowing red lights and merging too closely to other vehicles.
Typically, men are more prone to exhibit these types of aggressive driving behaviors than women, according to the AAA Foundation’s Annual Traffic Safety Culture Index.
According to the study, in 2019, 52% percent of men reported driving at least 15 miles per hour over the speed limit compared to 44.6% of women.
Approximately 37.8% of men admitted to following too closely, while just 29.3% of women admitted to doing the same.
In terms of honking or making rude gestures, 35.4% of men copped to doing so, compared to 28% women.
For running red lights, men continued to outpace women, though the gap was smaller than many of the other behaviors, with 32.2% of men and 30% of women failing to wait for the next green.
And when it comes to merging too closely, men did so at a rate of 31.5% compared to just 21.4% of women.
“Speeding, red-light running, and cutting other drivers off can kill you, your passengers, and others sharing the road,” said Nelson. “Driving aggressively isn’t worth the risk. When you get behind the wheel, be patient, be kind, and obey traffic laws so everyone gets home safely.”
The Link LonkDecember 06, 2020 at 10:31PM
https://www.silive.com/coronavirus/2020/12/holiday-road-rage-tips-for-keeping-your-cool-behind-the-wheel.html
Holiday road rage: Tips for keeping your cool behind the wheel - silive.com
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