Aggressive Driving & Road Rage What You Can Do to Avoid Dangerous Situations Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Disclaimer This presentation has been prepared by the Safety & Loss Department, of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc., to give guidance in developing a safety training presentation on Aggressive Driving & Road Rage, which may be helpful in the development or your own safety and training requirements. The information contained herein is not intended to be complete in all aspects but is intended to be a guide for the development of the cooperatives specific safety presentation material. This material may not contain all information necessary to develop a complete presentation, because each presentation depends to some extent on the circumstances of each individual cooperative. Each cooperative must take full responsibility for thoughtfully and thoroughly reviewing and developing their own presentation suitable for their own particular circumstances. OREC cannot and do not assume any responsibility or liability for any cooperatives compliance with applicable legal requirements regarding the development of safety presentations, practices and procedures or the safety and training of anyone’s employees and expressly disclaims any such responsibility and liability. OREC furnishes these materials solely for use by the cooperatives, as one resource among many to be chosen when training employees. Doug Payauys

What is Aggressive Driving? Aggressive Driving & Road Rage What is Aggressive Driving? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as: “When individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property." Doug Payauys

What is Aggressive Driving? Aggressive Driving & Road Rage What is Aggressive Driving? Some other communities define aggressive driving as: ”The operation of a motor vehicle involving three or more moving violations as part of a single continuous sequence of driving acts, which is likely to endanger any person or property.” Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving Behaviors Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Aggressive Driving Behaviors Exceeding the posted speed limit Following too closely Erratic or unsafe lane changes Improperly signaling lane changes Failure to obey traffic control devices (stop signs, yield signs, RR crossings) Running red lights, which NHTSA calls one of the most dangerous forms of aggressive driving Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage What is Road Rage? Road rage is different from aggressive driving It is a criminal offense It is defined as "an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or is caused by an incident that occurred on a roadway." Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage What is Road Rage? Road rage is uncontrolled anger that results in violence or threatened violence on the road Aggressive driving does not rise to the level of criminal behavior Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Road Rage on the Rise Events in which an angry or impatient driver tries to kill or injure another driver after a traffic dispute, have risen by 51 percent since 1990 In those cases studied: 37% of offenders used firearms against other drivers An additional 28% used other weapons 35% used their cars Doug Payauys

Ohio Enforcement Efforts Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Ohio Enforcement Efforts Ohio Highway Patrol statewide program is known as Operation TRIAD Targeting Reckless, Intimidating, and Aggressive Drivers The program uses thirteen aircraft along with ground units from the Highway Patrol and other local organizations Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Operation TRIAD Aggressive behaviors targeted: Following too close Passing off the travel portion of highway Lane change violations Speeding beyond the traffic flow Merging into traffic from on-ramp through safety or gore area Failure to yield at ramps or intersections Railroad crossing violations Displaying or using a weapon Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 1. Be aware that many drivers get angry if you follow them too closely. Allow at least a three-second time interval between your car and the car ahead. 3 Seconds Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 2. Don’t slam on the brakes if someone’s tailgating you. Instead, signal and pull over to let them pass. Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 3. Clarify your intentions by using your turn signals and brake lights. If someone cuts you off, slow down and give the car plenty of room to merge into your lane. Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 4. Don’t offend other drivers. Make sure you have plenty of room when you want to merge. Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 5. If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move over to the right and let them by. Remember, you may be "right" because you’re traveling at the speed limit, but you can also be putting yourself in danger by enraging someone behind you. Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 6. Keep as much distance as possible between yourself and another driver who wants to pick a fight. Motorists you might have offended can "snap" at any time, and it’s better to be a live chicken than a dead macho man. Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 7. Give the other motorist the benefit of the doubt. A driver who’s speeding or constantly changing lanes may be a volunteer fireman responding to a call, a physician rushing to a hospital or an undercover cop. Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 8. Allow more time for your trip. Instead of trying to "make good time," try to "make time good." Listen to soothing music or a book on tape. Adjust your attitude and forget about winning. For too many motorists, driving becomes a contest. Doug Payauys

Steps to Reducing Road Rage Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Steps to Reducing Road Rage 9. Ask for help if you have a problem with aggressive drivers or if you yourself are getting angrier behind the wheel. Courses in anger management have been shown to reduce heart attacks. Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Aggressive Drivers Get help if you think an aggressive driver is stalking you or trying to start a fight: Drive to a safe, populated place, such as a police station, shopping center, or hospital parking lot If you have a cellular phone, call the police Do not get out of your car, and do not go home Doug Payauys

Defensive Driving Tips Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Defensive Driving Tips According to California Highway Patrol spokesman Steve Kohler: "The best way to handle aggressive drivers is to not be an aggressive driver yourself" "And the second thing is to avoid those who are behaving aggressively by not reacting to them." Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage Disclaimer This presentation has been prepared by the Safety & Loss Department, of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc., to give guidance in developing a safety training presentation on Aggressive Driving & Road Rage, which may be helpful in the development or your own safety and training requirements. The information contained herein is not intended to be complete in all aspects but is intended to be a guide for the development of the cooperatives specific safety presentation material. This material may not contain all information necessary to develop a complete presentation, because each presentation depends to some extent on the circumstances of each individual cooperative. Each cooperative must take full responsibility for thoughtfully and thoroughly reviewing and developing their own presentation suitable for their own particular circumstances. OREC cannot and do not assume any responsibility or liability for any cooperatives compliance with applicable legal requirements regarding the development of safety presentations, practices and procedures or the safety and training of anyone’s employees and expressly disclaims any such responsibility and liability. OREC furnishes these materials solely for use by the cooperatives, as one resource among many to be chosen when training employees. Doug Payauys

Aggressive Driving & Road Rage What You Can Do to Avoid Dangerous Situations Doug Payauys