Teens and young adults who aren’t familiar with the roads may experience first-hand the dangers of the roads as they try to navigate new territory. Aggressive driving is one of the issues that some teens and young adults run into as other drivers honk at them, speed past them or cut them off in traffic.
It’s important for you to talk to your child about aggressive driving and what to do if they have been seeing it on the roads. Having an understanding of the causes of this aggressiveness and what they can do to protect themselves is essential.
What is aggressive driving?
Aggressive driving is probably best defined as any deliberate and unsafe driving behavior that is done with ill-will or a wonton disregard for the safety of the driver or others. Aggressive driving behaviors can come in many forms, but some common signs of aggression include:
- Speeding
- Brake-checking
- Lane blocking
- Honking
- Tailgating
- Swerving
- Cutting off other vehicles in traffic
- Road rage
Any of these situations can be upsetting to be involved in, which is why you should talk to your child about how to handle them. For example, if they notice that someone is trying to get around them, moving over into a slower lane could help that vehicle pass and get out of the area. If they’re seeing that a driver in front of them keeps slamming on their brakes, they should know to back away and slow down, so they can put space between themselves and that vehicle.
Aggressive driving isn’t legal
Oftentimes, the actions taken by those with road rage are not legal. In an emergency, or if someone is causing a dangerous situation, your child can pull over and report the license plate to the police. They can also call 911 if there is an immediate hazard, such as a driver honking or threatening others.
If a wreck happens, take action
If your child is involved in a car wreck, they need to call 911 and report the incident immediately. After they receive medical care, you can begin looking into making a claim against the at-fault driver.