Aggressive Driving Pest Control

Put the Brakes on Aggressive Driving One legitimate complaint is one too many. We’ve received messages concerning discourteous driving from customers that would like to cancel their services and from non-customers claiming, “I’ll never be a customer because I don’t want you driving in my neighborhood.” One legitimate complaint or concern is one too many. It’s time to put the brakes on aggressive driving During this presentation we are going to look at What aggressive driving/activities look like What a victim of the behavior resembles Why and how aggressive driving is so damaging to everyone Put the Brakes on Aggressive Driving

What is Aggressive Driving? Road racer (speeding) Tailgater Frequent lane changer Hand Gesturer Over Crowder Improper passer Red light runner What is aggressive driving? It doesn’t take long to find examples of aggressive driving on our roadways. Most of us see it everyday – the road racer, the tailgater, the frequent lane changer, the hand gesturer, the over crowder, the improper passer and the red light runner. Speeding – exceeding the posted limit or driving too fast for conditions. Improper or excessive lane changing: failing to signal intent, failing to see that movement can be made safety Tailgating or riding a bumper of slower vehicles to encourage them to speed up or get out of your way Expressing frustration to other motorists by making inappropriate gestures, honking your horn or flashing your headlights Crowding a driver over Improper passing: failing to signal intent, using an emergency land to pass, or passing another vehicle on the shoulder, in a no passing zone, or by using a center turn lane.

Are YOU An Aggressive Driver? Consider these questions: Do you tailgate? Do you express frustration? Do you make frequent lane changes? Do you speed? Do you push yellow lights? Do you fail to pay attention? Are you an aggressive driver? Consider these questions: Do you tailgate slower vehicles to encourage them to speed up or get out of your way? Do you express frustration to other motorists by making inappropriate gestures, honk your horn or flash your headlights? Do you weave in and out of heavy traffic to make better time? Do you speed? Do you push yellow light to the point that they sometimes turn red before you are all the way through the intersection? Do you fail to pay attention when driving? If your answer was yes to any of these questions, you may want to rethink your driving behavior.

Aggressive Driving: Fails to consider the human element Gives drivers a false sense of control / power Consequences of actions aren’t considered Creates an unsafe driving environment Accounts for deaths, injuries and property damage You can’t control traffic, only your reaction to it. The "aggressive driver" fails to consider the human element involved. The anonymity of being behind the wheel gives aggressive drivers a false sense of control and power; therefore, they seldom take into account the consequences of their actions. Aggressive drivers create an unsafe driving environment through their inconsiderate, self-centered driving habits. Drivers often commit multiple violations, including following too closely, changing lanes in an erratic or unsafe manner, signaling lane changes improperly, driving over the posted speed limit, and failing to obey traffic control devices. Because of these driving behaviors, hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and millions of dollars of property damage occur each year, and these behaviors contribute to the growing problems of hazardous traffic conditions. You can't control traffic, only your reaction to it

Victims of Aggressive Behavior The drivers you encounter might be: Friends Neighbors Co-workers Family members Let’s turn our attention now to what a victim of the behavior looks like. You might not even think of the other driver as a victim but the aggression targeted toward another person can definitely affect them as a victim. In an aggressive state of mind, drivers may not be thinking about the human beings who occupy the other vehicles around them. You need to realize that the driver in the other vehicle you encounter could be your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or family members. Each time you get behind the wheel we need to realize we are not alone on the roadway. Start putting a face on the drivers in the vehicles next to you. Remember the person that could be hurt because of your aggressive driving behavior could be you or a loved one.

Aggressive Driving Damages: Company reputation Customer service Sales Company Growth When operating a company vehicle, we must treat all other drivers as potential customers. Aggressive driving behavior, lack of etiquette or courtesy negatively impacts our company as well as you. For example, Company Reputation – In only a couple of seconds, one offensive driving act such as speeding, passing in a no passing zone, failure to allow someone to merge or parking in a handicap parking space can ruin our reputation; a reputation that’s taken decades to build. And as is the general rule when it comes to negative news, the person you offend is going to tell his friends, family members and co-workers. It used to be said that a customer tells at least 25 people about a negative incident or poor service received from a business. That was before Facebook, LinkedIn and other forms of social media. If you search “aggressive driving” on YouTube, you’ll find reputation damaging videos of “jerks caught on tape” that have been viewed by over 100,000 people.

Aggressive Driving Damages: Company reputation Customer service Sales Company Growth Aggressive driving can harm Customer Service – If your customer sees someone in our company vehicle driving aggressively, she thinks, “He just doesn’t care.” Or, “If he’s in that big of a hurry, I bet he doesn’t spend much time on service.” That’s a natural response and it gives the customer a reason to scrutinize and judge the service she is receiving at her home or business. So, that could lead to a cancellation once she begins to question service quality or she may just cancel service because she’s mad about the way you drive. Either way, from a customer service standpoint, you lose.

Aggressive Driving Damages: Company reputation Customer service Sales Company Growth Aggressive driving hurts Sales – Not only can aggressive or offensive driving cause customers to cancel existing services, it can cause them to never use in the first place. That’s because they do not want someone driving aggressively in their neighborhood or customer parking lot. Therefore, when it’s time to choose a company to do business with, they’ll go elsewhere. They don’t want to risk a child or a customer being injured around their homes or businesses. You wouldn’t either. Aggressive driving damages future sales and service opportunities.

Aggressive Driving Damages: Company reputation Customer service Sales Company Growth Aggressive driving can negatively impact Company Growth – Every employee should be concerned about company growth. A company that is not growing, even one that is just sitting still is a company that’s sick or dying. Company growth insures we have an employment future. Company growth means opportunity for advancement. Company growth means more benefits and incentives. And, if our reputation is damaged due to aggressive driving causing people to cancel and not even consider using our service because they don’t want aggressive drivers in their neighborhoods, it negatively impacts the growth of the company. Remember, the company is not a brick and mortar building. The company is comprised of people such as yourself. So, if the company is negatively impacted that means that you are negatively impacted.

Aggressive Driving Damages: Other Employees Vehicle maintenance Your Pay Check Aggressive driving is damaging to Other Employees – When someone sees an aggressive driver, she usually doesn’t know the name or the personal particulars about the driver. All she knows is the company. And, once again, it’s human nature to transfer the negative feeling she has about one aggressive driver to every driver within the company. So, if you drive aggressively, you may not get the cancellation or lose the sale yourself; however, someone that is a courteous driver may. Your driving habits either good or bad represent or reflect everyone within the company. Make sure it’s a good reflection.

Aggressive Driving Damages: Other Employees Vehicle Maintenance Your Pay Check Vehicle Maintenance – Aggressive driving can be damaging to the vehicle. Speeding and excessive acceleration from a stop is hard on the engine and tires. Excessive swerving and tailgating can lead to accidents. Each requires unnecessary repair expense on the engine, tires and body repair. Plus, if someone is injured due to aggressive driving there can be hundreds of thousands of dollars unnecessarily spent. These unneeded costs negatively impact every employee as they reduce the amount that can be invested in the 401-K retirement program, the President’s Club, pay increases and other incentives.

Aggressive Driving Damages: Other Employees Vehicle Maintenance Your Pay Check Aggressive driving can affect Your Pay Check – When you add it all up, the person that suffers the most from aggressive driving may be the driver himself. When people don’t use our services because of a bad reputation, cancel their existing services, never intend to use us because they don’t want us in their neighborhoods and the company is having to unnecessarily spend money to repair trucks, pay medical bills and fund lawyers due to driving lawsuits it reduces the amount the company can pay employees. It’s as simple as that.

Rules for Courteous Driving Do Not Speed Always come to a Complete Stop Do Not Pass in a No Passing Zone Do Not Tailgate Do not speed – even if you are late for an appointment. That one is pretty simple. Most of the time, being late is due to lack of planning rather than speed limits. At a stop sign, come to a complete stop. If you come to a four way stop at the same time as another vehicle, the driver on the farthest right has the right-of-way. Do not pass other vehicles in no passing zones. Do not tailgate.

Rules for Courteous Driving Use Your Turn Signals Use Caution at School Crosswalks Do Not Drive in Passing Lanes Always use your turn signals. This applies to when you make turns at intersections as well as when you change lanes. Take special precaution in school crosswalks, obeying all posted speed limits and watch for stray children. Do not cruise or drive in passing lanes. Even on four lane streets, stay in the right lane unless you are passing another vehicle.

Rules for Courteous Driving Turn Off High Beam Headlights Do Not Honk Your Horn Yield for Pedestrians Let Other Vehicles Merge Don’t Double Park If it’s dark, turn off your high-beam lights when oncoming traffic approaches. Don’t honk your horn or make gestures at other drivers. Remember: Pedestrians in crosswalks always have the right-of-way. Let other cars and trucks merge. Your vehicle is identified by our company name. Make a positive impression on existing or potential customers and let them merge in line. If you are parking in a parking lot, don’t take up more than one space – don’t park over a line.

Drive Smart Assume other drivers’ mistakes ARE NOT personal. Be POLITE and COURTEOUS If another driver challenges you, avoid eye contact and move out of the way. Don’t pull over to try and straighten out the situation Don’t allow emotions to take control Don’t retaliate or respond with similar conduct Drive Smart For your own safety and the safety of others, drive smart and don't let the road bullies get to you. Here are some tips to help. Assume other drivers' mistakes are not personal; we all have bad days.  Be polite and courteous, even if the other driver is not.  If another driver challenges you, avoid eye contact and move out of the way.  Under no circumstances should you pull over to try and straighten out the situation. Don’t allow your emotions to take control and behave aggressively while driving and toward other drivers. Finally, Don’t retaliate or respond with similar conduct – avoid eye contact, be polite and courteous and move out of the way.

Courtesy is contagious Keep your composure when driving. Don’t try to make others do what you want them to do, or retaliate against someone who is driving recklessly. Courtesy is contagious You can’t control traffic, but you CAN control your reaction to it. Kyour composure when driving. Don't try to make others do what you want them to do, or retaliate against someone who's driving recklessly. Courtesy is contagious. As a final note, remember you can’t control traffic, only your reaction to it.

When was the last time you were a victim of someone’s aggressive driving? Be kind.