Our last blog discussed Louisiana’s approach to curbing aggressive driving across the state. You should not have to feel that your life is in danger behind the wheel, yet that is how many drivers feel. A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 30 percent of respondents felt threatened in the last month by an aggressive driver. In addition, 67 percent of respondents felt threatened by an aggressive driver in the past year.
In addition to threatening the safety of other drivers, aggressive drivers are more likely to drink and drive and drive without seatbelts, according to the NHTSA study. The majority of drivers feel that increased police patrol will cut down on aggressive drivers along with frequent ticketing. Higher fines and increased insurance costs will also deter aggressive drivers, said the drivers surveyed by the NHTSA.
It is clear that aggressive drivers contribute to car accidents and serious traffic injuries. More cars on the road means more time spent in traffic. Approximately 91 percent of the American work force drives to work, according to State Farm Insurance. In addition, commuters in one-third of the largest cities spend over 40 hours per year stuck in traffic jams. We hope that drivers will learn to control their reactions and keep other drivers’ safety in mind.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans accident lawyers