Aggressive driving (road rage) is on the rise and has attributed to a variety of
motor vehicle involved incidents including accidents and assaults. The North Bergen
Police Department is well aware of the inherent dangers associated with this kind
of behavior and is actively pursuing and enforcing traffic violations related to
aggressive driving.
Who Are They?
Here's what we know about them:
- These high risk drivers climb into the anonymity of an automobile and take out their frustrations on anybody at any time.
- Their frustration levels are high, and level of concern for fellow motorists is low.
- They run stop signs and red lights, speed, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right, make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures, scream, honk, and flash their lights.
- They drive at speeds far in excess of the norm which causes them to …
- Follow too closely
- Change lanes frequently and abruptly without notice or signals
- Pass on the shoulder or unpaved portions of the roadway
- Threaten motorists (verbally, gesturally) who are "thoughtless" enough to be in - front of them
When Confronted By Aggressive Drivers …
- First and foremost make every attempt to get out of their way!
- Put your pride in the back seat. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your travel lane.
- Wear your seat belt. It will it hold you in your seat and behind the wheel in case you need to make an abrupt driving maneuver and it will protect you in a crash.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Ignore gestures and refuse to return them.
- Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, license number, location, and if possible, direction of travel.
- If you have a mobile phone, and can do it safely, call the police (i.e. 9-1-1 or #77).
- If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash farther down the road, stop a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for the police to arrive and report the driving behavior that you witnessed.
Adopted from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.