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"Aggressive drivers cause accidents.  Knowing what to do before encountering an aggressive driver, may prevent these accidents which result in personal injuries and fatalities," says Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

The GHSA (Governor's Highway Safety Association) said in their most recent Survey of States - Speeding and Aggressive Driving, that despite reductions in the overall number of speed-related crashes and fatalities, and major advancements in the areas of seat belt use and sober driving, the proportion of speed-related fatalities that occur on U.S. roadways has remained virtually unchanged over the last quarter century. According to the 2012 survey, nearly 90% of drivers view aggressive driving as a serious threat to their own safety.

At one time or another, every driver has to deal with an aggressive driver on the road. They are easy to recognize. They drive at speeds far in excess of the norm which causes them to: follow too closely, change lanes frequently and abruptly without turn signals, pass on the shoulder or unpaved portions of the roadway, and leer at and/or threaten - verbally or through gestures - other motorists who may be in front of them. An aggressive driver may run stop signs and red lights, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right, make improper and unsafe lane changes, make improper hand and facial gestures, scream, honk, and flash their lights.

AAA (American Automobile Association) says that one key to prevention is to avoid engaging in the behaviors yourself and trying not to give other roadway users cause to become aggressive. They recommend:

• Avoiding conflict. It is best to assume that other drivers’ mistakes are not personal.
• Never attempting to take the right of way. It must be given by other drivers.
• When using high-beam headlights, returning to low-beam headlights as soon as  detecting an oncoming vehicle.
• Not driving behind another vehicle with high-beam headlights on.
• Be as polite on the road as in any other social situation.  Drivers cannot control traffic, but they can control their responses to it.

If encountering an aggressive driver the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says drivers should:

• First and foremost make every attempt to get out of their way.
• Not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your travel lane.
• Wear your seat belt. It will hold you in your seat and behind the wheel in case you need to make an abrupt driving maneuver, and it will protect you in a crash.
• Avoid eye contact.
• Ignore gestures and refuse to return them.
• Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, license number, location, and if possible, direction of travel.

Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.