The American Institute for Public Safety defines the aggressive driver as a person who drives with a lack of courtesy, and creates dangerous situations on the road. In other words, selfish people with a real bad attitude.

A car was driving down the street when all of a sudden it started swerving. The car was going back and forth till someone with a cell phone called the police. A police officer pulled the car over. A blonde rolls down the window and says, "Officer, I'm so glad you are here. I saw a tree in the road, then I saw another. So I had to swerve to keep from hitting it!"

The officer looks at her, then says, "Ma'am, that's your air freshener."

Let's review some basic stuff, like signaling. Why is it that so many drivers don't give us the simple courtesy? They would probably fall into two categories, "Unaware" or "Aggressive." The unaware driver may not realize that you're next to them or right behind them. The aggressive driver knows you're there, but they don't care. It's too much effort for them to use their turn signal. Both types of drivers are equally dangerous.

Have you ever been behind someone on a single lane road who's going really slow? There's a line of traffic behind them and the person continues without pulling over. Why? An unaware driver doesn't realize all those people are behind them. An aggressive driver says, "I know those people are behind me, but I don't care. I have to get where I'm going, and I'm more important."

Simple Facts:
Drivers who don't follow the rules are involved in more collisions.
ONE IN EVERY 3 COLLISIONS RESULTS IN AN INJURY.

Your car is like a loaded weapon… being unaware or driving aggressively is like playing Russian Roulette.

It's a right to own a vehicle,
but it's a privilege to be allowed to drive it.

Contrary to popular belief, we don't have a constitutional right to drive… It's a privilege that is given by the State and this privilege can be taken away!

A quick story.

Back in Louisiana, Steve started driving at a very early age in the sugar cane field in his backyard. Steve loved to drive his mother's car through the fields. He had a cousin named Johnny. who he looked up to. Johnny was the man. Johnny had this souped-up Camaro with a V-8 engine. It was like the car on the Dukes of Hazard television show. Johnny was a real aggressive driver and didn't care about other people when he was driving. He would drive really fast.

One day Johnny let Steve drive his Camaro. Steve were driving really fast down a country road, going about 60 M.P.H. All of a sudden, he came to a curve where a car was coming in the opposite direction. He turned the wheel sharply and swerved off the road right into a ditch. He missed crashing into the other car by inches. Steve got out of the car and went over to check on the passengers of the other car to make sure no one was hurt.

Unbeknownst to Steve, his mother was in that car. She was out for a drive with one of her friends. When she got out of the car and saw it was Steve, she gave him his attitude adjustment right there on the side of the road. She started hitting him with her purse. When women from the South hit you with their purse, they do one hit per word. Don't - you - ever - drive - a - car - like - that - again! People passing by were saying, "You get him, girl! You get him, girl!" She said, "I got him!"

It was a long time before Steve drove a car again. That incident made him realize that he'd better become a safer driver or he might end up killing somebody. Can you imagine if Steve really hit that car and hurt his mom? Steve's behavior changed that day.

In the meantime, Steve's cousin Johnny just got wilder and wilder. One day while out driving his motorcycle really fast he crashed into a car. He had two broken legs, a broken pelvis and broken arms. And a changed attitude !!!

LET'S FACE IT… We All Can Use Some Attitude Adjustment..
or as experts say, Behavior Modification.

People do many different things while driving. They read a map, write, talk on the cell phone, put on their makeup, insert their contact lens, eat, drink, men shave, women shave. Some even have sex. One of our students got a ticket for reading the newspaper on the highway. How would you like to be driving next to that guy while he's reading the sports section?

When driving, you must focus 100% of your attention on the road and driving your vehicle. In a split second, conditions on the road can change and you must be prepared to react to those changes.

Having the appropriate attitude when driving will enable you to focus more clearly, be more aware of your surroundings and ensure that you arrive at your destination safely.

Don't let your emotions interfere with safe driving. Use all the good judgment, common sense, courtesy and safe driving procedures that you can.

The first step to becoming an aware driver is to identify your weaknesses, strengths and emotional state while driving. Be honest and truthful when evaluating your driving abilities and attitude. It just might save your life!