According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aggressive driving is defined as “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” If you see someone doing the following on the road, it can be characterized as aggressive driving:
- Speeding
- Changing lanes in an unsafe manner
- Failure to yield to right-of-way
- Failure to obey traffic control devices
- Improper passing
- Following too closely
One of the emphasis areas in Florida’s Highway Safety Plan is aggressive driving. It’s important that the state of Florida combats this kind of driving by putting certain efforts such as focusing on laws that deal with speeding and aggressive driving, incorporating technology at high-risk locations and implementing countermeasures to control speeding and other instances of aggressive driving.
Florida has an established point system for evaluation of convictions of violations of motor vehicle laws or ordinances, and violations of applicable provisions. When it comes to unlawful speeding that is not in excess of 15 miles per hour of lawful or posted speed— you get 3 points. And in excess of 15 miles per hour of lawful or posted speed— you get 4 points.
If you decide to change lanes, pass or change course, you know there are limitations. According to the Florida statues, no vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless authorized by Florida statute, and unless such left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic. If you’re overtaking another vehicle, you have to give an appropriate signal and you have to return to your authorized lane as soon as practicable.
A driver should not follow too closely another vehicle. There should be a reasonable and prudent distance between two vehicles taking into consideration the speed of the vehicle and conditions on the road.
Speeding and other instances of aggressive driving in Florida are taken extremely seriously by law enforcement agencies. Their objective is to save lives and to put all drivers on alert. A speed limit is the law and should be obeyed by everyone. Be sure that officers will be there, looking for and ticketing aggressive drivers.
It is important that there are different engineering countermeasures such as coordinated signal timing between intersections, red light cameras, new or different signal timing, properly scheduled and designed work zones, variable speed limits and variable direction lanes, etc.
If you ever end up in an accident with an aggressive driver and end up hurt, get medical help and call law enforcement. Then, contact a Tampa personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. They can help you with all the paperwork, assess your chances of getting the compensation you deserve and guide you throughout the personal injury claim settlement process.