5.4 Aggressive Driving, Road Rage & Drowsy Driving

Aggressive Driving

The manual's examples of aggressive driving: speeding, tailgating, ignoring traffic signals and devices, unsafe lane changes, not yielding the right-of-way, and unsafe or illegal passing. Crowded roads, unexpected delays, rushing, road construction and stress can push people to drive aggressively. You must respect and cooperate with everyone using the road and follow all the rules that keep people safe.

Maryland's Legal Definition

Under Transportation Article § 21-901.2, a person is guilty of aggressive driving if they commit three or more listed offenses at the same time or during a single and continuous period of driving. The listed offenses include:

• Failing to obey traffic control devices, or running a steady red light.
• Improper overtaking and passing, passing on the right, driving left of center when passing, or passing in a no-passing zone.
• Unsafe lane use on a laned roadway.
• Following too closely.
• Failing to yield the right-of-way, including failing to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk or passing a vehicle stopped for one.
• Passing a stopped school vehicle with flashing red lights.
• Running a stop or yield sign.
• Speeding.
• Skidding or spinning wheels, or excessive noise.
• Passing a bicycle, scooter or similar device unsafely.

A conviction for aggressive driving carries 5 points, the level at which the MVA requires a driver improvement program.

The Manual's Tips to Avoid Aggressive-Driving Incidents

• Allow extra time to travel.
• Be patient and be courteous.
• Focus on your driving behavior.
• Always signal your intentions.
• Obey all traffic laws, signs, signals and pavement markings.
• Yield the right-of-way.
• Avoid competing with other drivers.

The manual's general rule: treat other drivers and road users the way you would like to be treated.

How Aggressive Driving Compares With Related Offenses

Provisional drivers face extra MVA sanctions for high-risk driving convictions, which include speeding, racing and reckless, aggressive or negligent driving: a 6-month suspension for the first and 1 year for later offenses (see Section 1.4).

Road Rage

Aggressive driving can turn into road rage, when a driver deliberately tries to intimidate or harm someone. Common advice for staying safe:

• Do not respond to rude gestures, horn blasts or tailgating; do not make eye contact or gesture back.
• Do not brake-check or block a driver who wants to pass. Let them go.
• If someone follows you, do not drive home. Go to a police station or a busy public place and call 911.
• Stay in your vehicle with the doors locked if an angry driver approaches.

Drowsy Driving

Not getting enough sleep causes unsafe driving. The manual says sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment, just like drugs or alcohol, which greatly increases your chance of a crash. The CDC estimates that being awake for 18 hours affects driving about as much as a BAC of 0.05, and 24 hours about as much as 0.10.

Higher-risk drivers include people who drive many miles each day, people with sleep disorders, and people taking certain medications. Sleep apnea and narcolepsy are also on the MVA's list of reportable medical conditions (see Section 1.2).

Danger Signs of Drowsiness

• Your eyes close or go out of focus.
• You have trouble keeping your head up.
• You cannot stop yawning.
• You have wandering, disconnected thoughts.
• You do not remember driving the last few miles.
• You missed your exit.
• You keep drifting out of your lane.
• You keep changing your speed.

What Works

The manual's rule: if you become tired or sleepy while driving, it is best to rest or change drivers. Being tired dulls your mind and slows your reactions. Opening a window, turning up the radio or drinking coffee may help briefly but does not replace sleep. On long trips, plan breaks, share the driving, and avoid driving at hours when you would normally be asleep. Highway hypnosis, a trance-like state on long, monotonous highways, is another reason to take regular breaks.

Planning Long Trips

• Get a full night's sleep before a long drive.
• Plan a break about every two hours, and share the driving if you can.
• Avoid heavy meals and medications that cause drowsiness before driving; check labels.
• Do not start a long drive late at night after a full day of school or work.

Scenario Practice

1. A driver speeds, tailgates and changes lanes unsafely in one stretch of highway. That is three listed offenses in one continuous period: aggressive driving, with 5 points.
2. Another driver honks and gestures because you are going the speed limit. Stay calm, keep right if possible, and let them pass.
3. You realize you do not remember the last few miles. Pull off at the next safe place and rest, or switch drivers.