Even if you’re a courteous driver, there’s always a chance you could run into someone who is overly aggressive on the road. If this happens, you have one goal in mind: to remove yourself from the situation as quickly and as safely as possible
If an aggressive driver confronts you, here are five things you can do:
- Don’t respond to their actions. Doing so will only make things worse, so keep your eyes on the road and attempt to distance yourself.
- Don’t make eye contact. This goes along with responding to their actions. Making eye contact can lead to more aggression, so do whatever it takes to avoid this.
- Move out of the way. It may not be what you want to do, but moving out of the way so the person can get past your vehicle can bring an end to the situation.
- Never get out of your vehicle. In the most serious of situations, a person may get out of their vehicle to confront you. Don’t get out. Instead, stay where you are and call 911. If you can safely drive away, do so.
- Be forgiving. Don’t assume that a person is acting aggressively for no reason. It doesn’t make it right, but maybe they’re having a bad day or need to get somewhere in a hurry.
If an aggressive driver causes an accident, you should immediately pull to safety and call 911. Since you don’t know what the person may do, stay in your vehicle until police arrive.
Once things settle down and you receive medical treatment, you can consult with your insurance agent and take steps to protect your legal rights.
