The following is taken from the Iowa Department of Transportation's website.
Tailgating to pressure a driver to go faster or get out of the way.
Flashing lights in order to signal persons to move to another lane.
Obscene gesturing.
Changing lanes without signaling.
Blasting the horn.
Frequently changing lanes by weaving back and forth.
Racing to beat a yellow light that's about to turn red.
Traveling in the passing or left lane at a slower speed, making it impossible
for others to pass.
Driving with the high beams on behind another vehicle or toward oncoming traffic.
Cutting people off.
Slowing down after passing someone.
Not making a right turn in the right-hand turn lane.
Not reacting quickly after the red light turns green.
What Motorists Can Do
"He/she who drives away, lives to drive another day."
Use directional lights to indicate a lane shift.
Follow the laws of the road.
Be polite and courteous.
Stay within the speed limits.
Drive at a safe following distance.
Stay mostly within one lane.
Don't become distracted by using the car phone or reading the paper while the
vehicle is in motion.
Put some physical distance between you and drivers who are behaving erratically.
Don't show a reaction to the aggressive driver; especially, avoid eye contact.
Avoid behaviors that antagonize or irritate others.
Learn to control your temper and keep your cool in traffic.
Use your horn sparingly.
Keep the music in your vehicle at a level that doesn't annoy others.
If you are feeling frustrated - create a distraction such as turning on the
radio, start a conversation with a passenger, play 20 questions, or talk yourself
through the situation to calm down.
Be tolerant of those who exhibit non-conforming traffic behaviors.
National Statistics
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 250,000 people
have been killed and 20 million motorists injured in traffic crashes between
1990-96. The U.S. DOT estimates that two thirds of fatalities are at least partially
caused by aggressive driving.
A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that included reports from
30 newspapers, a review of insurance claims and police reports from 16 cities
revealed the following statistics among 10,037 occurrences between 1990 and
1996.
10,037 incidents of aggressive driving
218 deaths
More than 12,610 injuries
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