Aggressive driving is an ongoing traffic safety concern throughout the country.
National surveys consistently show that aggressive driving is as much of a safety concern as drunk driving and many drivers feel threatened by it.
The Redmond Police Department (RPD) receives citizen complaints of aggressively driven vehicles daily. RPD attempts to reduce aggressive driving incidents through education opportunities and enforcement activity.
Unlike distracted drivers, who just aren’t paying attention, aggressive drivers have a territorial attitude, as if they own the road. A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), indicates that aggressive drivers routinely engage in competitive or vindictive actions toward other drivers. They tend to speed, change lanes frequently, cut others off, and force their way ahead. AAA contends that any unsafe driving behavior, performed deliberately and with ill intention or disregard for safety, constitutes aggressive driving.
Does this sound familiar? Ever traveled eastbound on Union Hill Road during the evening commute? At the edge of town the two eastbound lanes converge to one. Some white-knuckled drivers attempt to speed ahead in the right lane to pass other vehicles while drivers in the left lane travel nose to tail to prevent entry. It’s quite a show, but is this aggressive driving? Absolutely, all of these drivers are demonstrating aggressive driving behavior and all are committing traffic offenses.
My traffic enforcement focus for the police department consists of identifying and apprehending aggressive drivers utilizing an unmarked patrol vehicle. This type of enforcement is effective as I’ve been severely tailgated and rudely cut off countless times, all for driving the speed limit. These drivers should expect a ticket for both Following Too Close and an Unsafe Lane Change — both are $124 fines. Their ticket would be stamped with “aggressive driving” to inform judges in traffic court of the severity of the violations.
One way for citizens to assist police is to report aggressive drivers by calling 911 when it is safe to do so. But do not follow the vehicle as this could lead to incidents of road rage, a separate topic. Tell the dispatcher what happened and provide the location of the incident, street, and block number. Provide a description of the vehicle, including the license plate number, and its last known direction of travel. Describe the driver and any passengers if possible.
A typical citizen’s report of an aggressive driver is, “There’s a red Jeep, or other vehicle, speeding through traffic, cutting off other drivers, and nearly causing a collision as it ran a red traffic light. The license plate is XYZ123.”
An officer will attempt to locate the vehicle. If unable, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive an aggressive driving letter, written by one of our dedicated volunteers on behalf of the police department. The intention of the letter is to inform the vehicle owner of the reported incident and to educate them of potential consequences. This is extremely effective when the registered owner and the aggressive driver are not the same person.
Aggressive drivers tend to accumulate more traffic tickets than other drivers and are more likely to be involved in a collision. Their insurance premiums may skyrocket and they could have their driving privilege suspended from the Department of Licensing. Aggressive drivers who demonstrate reckless driving or assaultive road rage behavior could go to jail and have their vehicle impounded.
It’s clear to me that driver attitude is the most important factor contributing to aggressive driving behavior. Incidents can be reduced if a driver is able to control his or her own driving attitude by showing mutual respect and courtesy toward other roadway users. Remember to use your turn signals and allow other drivers enough room to merge. Avoid tailgating by allowing at least two seconds between you and the car ahead. Give yourself extra time to get where you need to go and keep a positive, relaxed frame of mind.
Officer Martin Fuller has been with the Redmond Police Department for eight years and has worked specifically in the Traffic Division for the last three. He is trained in Technical Collision Investigation and is an Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor. If you have questions for him to address in future columns, please e-mail trafficguy@redmond.gov.
