Accidents are going to take place on our roads. That’s a given.
But safe driving practices and proper precautions can prevent most of these accidents. Reckless and aggressive drivers not only put their own lives at risks, but also the lives of everyone on Arizona’s roads.
Reckless driving creates dangerous situations on the road and poses a danger not only to drivers, but also to any pedestrians or property in the area. If you or a loved one has been injured in an car accident with a reckless driver, don’t wait.
Contact our Tucson reckless driver accident attorneys at the Khalidi Law Firm for a free consultation today.
Types of Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is a class 2 misdemeanor in Arizona. In addition to other penalties, it can be punished by a license suspension of up to 90 days. There are several unsafe driving practices that fall under the category of reckless driving:
- Speeding
While we should all avoid driving in excess of the speed limit, speeding does not become reckless driving until it is dangerously higher than the limit.
- Failing to stop
This includes both running red lights and ignoring other signals to stop, such as stop signs.
- Driving under the influence/driving while impaired (DUI/DWI)
It’s possible for a driver to be convicted for both DUI/DWI and reckless driving.
- Racing
Tempting as it is, racing the pickup in the next lane with the driver who keeps revving the engine at you is not considered safe driving practice.
- Evading police
In short: running from the police only makes things worse.
- Passing stopped school buses
If the bus is stopped in front of you, just assume that there are children about to start crossing.
- Passing over double yellow lines
Those lines are there for a reason. Even if you’re running late, it’s not worth the risk.
Aggressive Drivers: What Is Road Rage?
We all know what road rage is. It’s when a driver in front of you cuts you off and your first thought is that the driver who did it deserves to get rear-ended.
Things are going to set off tempers on the road. There are stupid drivers. There are inattentive drivers. There are inexperienced drivers. It’s more than natural that we’ll feel annoyed when we encounter some of these people. Eighty percent of American drivers experience significant anger while driving in any given year. That’s understandable.
But there are drivers out there who will experience that rage and attempt to get back at another driver. These aggressive drivers pose a real danger on the roads.
These are all relatively minor instances of road rage, but it’s clear that these are unsafe driving practices that can directly or indirectly contribute to an accident.
More surprisingly: three percent of American drivers have intentionally bumped or rammed another vehicle in the last 12 months. That’s six million people who exhibit aggressive driving. We should all be able to agree that no matter how stupid another driver is being, intentionally running into their vehicle is not likely to improve the situation.
How Can We Prevent Reckless Driving?
Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do about the reckless and aggressive driving of others. But good driving practices and obedience to the rules of the road can keep you safe from the worst of it, and more importantly it can help you keep control of yourself when the road rage hits.
Try not to take the mistakes of other drivers personally. The driver who cut you off wasn’t doing it to spite you. Corny as it sounds, try to remember that the person who cut you off is a human being who may have a very good reason to feel rushed. Take a moment to process that feeling of anger before you do something you might regret.
When another driver is being aggressive with you, there are several steps you can take to defuse the situation. Don’t make eye contact with angry drivers. Resist the urge to respond to aggression with aggression. Remember we’re all trying to get where we’re going, and that should give us the best chance of getting there in one piece.
Rely on Our Experience. Call Us Today
The Khalidi Law Firm has more than 20 years of experience helping injured people in the Tucson area get the closure they deserve. If a loved one has suffered injury on account of an aggressive driver, contact our Tucson reckless driver accident lawyers at The Khalidi Law firm for a free consultation today.