How to Deal with Aggressive Drivers

Driving down Highway 10 in MN.

Shortly after I left work yesterday I merged onto the interstate and noticed there was more traffic than usual. A couple minutes later I saw a sedan coming up quickly behind me. I quickly found a spot in the next lane over so I could let the driver by. But then I noticed the car begin to weave in and out of the traffic, cutting people off, and even passing on the shoulder. Another driver in a truck wanted to prevent the sedan from squeezing into the lane in front of him and so sped up to close that gap. It was a brief "Accelerate, brake, repeat" kind of war between the two vehicles.

Watching this situation unfold was my reminder, and now yours too, to keep your distance from people driving recklessly or aggressively. It's not just slick roads that make for hazardous driving—many times it’s other drivers that create dangerous road conditions.

So, here's some tips to keep you out of trouble:

• If you encounter a fast driver, or an aggressive or unkind one, do your best to move out of the way as quickly as possible. With their dangerous driving habits, it's likely that the Law will catch up to them soon without your intervention. However, if they are driving recklessly, please call the police and let them know where you’re at and the great danger the driver is posing. Unfortunately in my situation, it was an afterthought.
•  “Keep right except when passing.” You may have seen those signs before. If there’s 2 lanes, stay in the right lane at all times unless you’re actively passing someone, or if the interstate splits and you need to be in that lane to get where you need to go. In some states like mine, Minnesota, it’s illegal not to be in the right lane unless passing. But law or no law, it also irritates drivers when cars are blocking the left lane by driving slowly and it's an easy way to stir up aggression from others. If that's you, please do your part to prevent those situations.
• Use your turn signals like you’re trying to pass your drivers test all over again. Why? When you’ve got a car a few feet from your rear bumper the driver is trying to get you to move faster, and they’ll take any opening they can get to speed by you. So when you see an opening in the next lane over for you to fit your car into--take it. BUT, activate your turn signal early, and change lanes quickly but carefully. If you plan to change lanes but don’t use your turn signal, the fast driver will likely move to that exact lane at the same time and you’ll likely hit each other.

What's the bottom line?

We sadly live in a crazy world and we’ve got to act like it. That means we need to drive defensively to guard ourselves against threats on the road. But it also means treating drivers the way you'd want to be treated. If you'd appreciate being let into a lane, do that for someone else. When you're at a 4-way stop, and you and another car arrives to the sign at the same time, let them go first. What am I saying? Be kind--it's really as simple as that. Respecting others makes the world go 'round, and regardless of how someone drives, you be the better person. Let the Law deal with those crazy drivers while you let it be to you like water off a duck's back. It's easier to let an offense go than deal with it's aftereffects. So, keep calm and actually enjoy your drive instead of taking in that stress.

 
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What other tips do you have for staying safe against aggressive drivers on the road? Comment below!