Deal Aggressive Drivers

By Simon
General
While there are times when driving when your passengers might tell you to calm down, or you wish you could tell other drivers on the road to relax; you can’t control other drivers around you. This is especially true when it comes to aggressive motorists that you encounter on the road. Most of the time, aggressive drivers are those who think that they need to go faster than everyone else on the road, either because they are impatient, running late, or just have an innate need to go fast all the time. These people will generally react negatively if they believe that there is another driver or obstacle in their way that is preventing them from going their desired speed. Other times these drivers might be young, new drivers, fresh from a driving school Brooklyn NY , who think they have something to prove. Perhaps they are trying to show off to all of their friends now that they have their own license and their parents are not along for the ride. Whatever the reason, aggressive drivers are a reality of driving, and can be found everywhere and pose a danger to not only themselves, but to everyone else around them. Having a stranger “push” you down the road, or lay on their horn to encourage you to drive faster than you feel safe, or move over can be distracting and intimidating, especially for young, inexperienced drivers. As a result, these actions could cause someone to be uncomfortable, or even do something that is unsafe. So, how do you handle aggressive drivers and keep yourself safe while driving? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you encounter an aggressive driver.

Don’t Be One

Probably the most important piece of advice, is to not be an aggressive driver. You will encounter plenty on the road, don’t add to it by being one yourself. Be sure to leave on time so that you have plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. Remember that driving is not the time or place to be showing off your driving skills by going fast. Put others and your own safety first, focus on your driving and be smart behind the wheel.

Remain Calm

When you encounter an aggressive driver, do your best to remain calm. Breath, stay focused on driving and don’t react in an unsafe manner. Chances are that they will pass you the first chance they get. Reacting to their aggression could potentially put yourself and others in danger. Even worse is reacting with your own aggression, such as slamming on your brakes to startle someone who is following too closely, or speeding up to prevent someone from passing you safely. The risk is too great to make it worth engaging in. Resist the urge to acknowledge and react to aggressive behavior from other drivers to keep yourself and those around you safe.

Let Them Go

In most instances it is going to be in your best interest to move aside and let the aggressive driver be on their way. Either move over, or find a safe place to pull off if necessary to allow for them to pass you safely. Maintain your speed, don’t speed up or slow down, as this will only aggravate them more. If they attempt to pass you in an unsafe spot, such as on a windy road with little to no visibility of oncoming traffic, slowly ease off the gas and slow down. This will allow you to be out of the way incase they need to swerve back into your lane. Learning how to be a safe driver is a beneficial skill to learn early on. At Drive Rite Academy driving school Brooklyn NY our students are taught the necessary skills to be safe, and how to handle aggressive drivers on the road. If you are looking for the best driving school in Brooklyn, contact us today and learn more about the services we offer and how we can help your teen driver be prepared to drive NYC!   
Back to Top