AAA hero turns dead car battery call for two young boys into lesson moments
Casey Katz’s car battery died in Oakland, Florida. Mike, an AAA worker, had his two sons “help” the corrections and turned the stress into a sweet lesson.
Have you ever driven aggressively?
According to a new survey by the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety, there is a 96% chance that they answered “yes” to that question.
While almost all American drivers admit to speeding, tailing, or other forms of aggressive driving, the report found that these actions were contagious to other drivers who share the road.
“Driving can be a stressful experience due to the behavior of others on the road and how you respond to a variety of situations,” said David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for AAA Road Safety. “Our study found that experiencing different forms of aggressive driving behavior is common for almost all drivers, with many driving being driven aggressively.”
According to the research technical report, the study included 53 participants from 27 US states, spanning eight different focus groups, interviewing drivers who were “occasionally” or “habitually” offensive and drivers who were “engaged in road rage” across eight different focus groups.
Drivers were asked to explain their experiences of aggressive behavior, situations forced to drive aggressively, emotions, coping strategies, and road rage.
The report found that 92% of drivers reported aggressive driving behaviors, such as speeding or shutting down others, but their motivation was to either arrive at their destination or avoid potential dangers.
Furthermore, the survey claims that 11% of those surveyed have deliberately allowed others to slam or stand up from frustration to another driver.
“This work concludes that road etiquette and manners can be a protective factor against aggressive driving,” Yang said. “Let’s change the driving culture so that all road users can achieve a safe mobility vision.”
The American driving culture has been changing since 2016, with some actions declining, but some are rising.
The study found that tail measurements and oral altercations have since decreased by 24% and 17% respectively, but 67% and 47% respectively to slash the vehicle and ringing out of anger, respectively.
AAA tips when driving with an aggressive driver
- Don’t get involved – no eye contact, gestures, or responses
- Let them pass and keep the distance
- Protect yourself – call the police or it’s public somewhere, but don’t go home
AAA Tips for Controlling Road Rage
- Take a deep breath
- Ignore aggressive drivers
- Allow travel time – leave early and drive slowly
“Having good manners behind the wheel isn’t just about being polite,” said Joe Torres, AAA Road Safety Advocacy and Research Manager, in a release. “It’s about ensuring the safety and happiness of everyone on the road.”
