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119 Driver Safety
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Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Speeding behavior and aggressive driving may not only affect the speeder—they can also affect other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Here are some tips for encountering speeders on the road:

Control your emotions.
  • If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move over and let them by.
  • Give speeding drivers plenty of space. Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicles more easily.
  • Adjust your driving accordingly. Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.
  • Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.
  • Never respond to someone flipping you "the bird" with a like response. Ignore it.
  • Use your turn signals regularly.
  • If you must, tap your horn, but don't use long blasts.
  • Do not flash your high beam lights if someone has not dimmed their lights as they approach at night.
  • Don't respond to aggression with aggression.
  • If you feel threatened, call 911.

Real-Life Accidents

At 10:00 a.m. on May 19, 2023, an employee was traveling on a private dirt road by ATV without a helmet. There were no witnesses. Per the police report, the road was wet and the employee may have been traveling too fast for road conditions. The employee traveled by ATV around the dirt road corner and struck an uneven spot in the road, causing the employee to be ejected approximately 27 feet. The employee struck his head on the dirt/gravel road.
At 1:35 p.m. on July 18, 2023, an employee was signaling traffic. A speeding truck swerved out of lane 1, spun around and hit the employee standing in the shoulder lane. The employee was killed due to blunt force trauma.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-2. Which of the following is a safe practice when dealing with aggressive drivers?