Car Collisions

Aggressive Driving: Tips To Minimize Problems With Anger, Aggression and Road Rage

Posted on by John Kluksdal

Aggressive driving is a major factor in many needless vehicle accidents. Idaho Transportation Department statistics show aggressive Aggressive Driving Crashdriving contributed to at least 13 of the 91 deaths on Idaho roads in the summer of 2019.  Federal Statistics also show aggressive driving was a factor in 51 percent of all crashes and 33 percent of all fatalities in 2017.

Good drivers know that traffic conditions and other drivers’ behaviors are out of their control.  What we can control is our own emotions and reactions.  Avoiding confrontation is not always possible, but driving courteously and safely is less likely to aggravate other drivers who might already be stressed, impatient or inconsiderate.

Good Driver Etiquette:  Lesson Other’s Aggressive Driving

1. Be predictable. Always use your indicators to give plenty of warning, change lanes correctly and don’t drive slowly in the passing lane.

2. Be polite. Don’t follow other cars too closely. Allow other drivers to merge in front of you and give way to others when you are pulling out. Don’t block intersections.

3. Don’t start it.  Excessive horn blowing, headlight flashing and rude gestures might provoke already stressed drivers.

4. Drive defensively. Learn to expect the unexpected.

5. Admit Mistakes.If you do make a mistake, admit it and try to signal to the other driver that you are sorry.

Controlling Your Own Anger: Reduce Your Own Aggressive Driving

1.  Safety. Safety. Safety. It should be your number one concern while driving.

2.  I’m late! Plan ahead and leave enough time for the trip. When you are running late, you add unnecessary stress to the situation.

3.  Nobody’s perfect. Mistakes happen. Accept that maybe what you observed to be an aggressive act by another driver was only a simple mistake.

4. You’re not the boss of me. Don’t let another driver that you don’t even know dictate your mood for the day.

5. You’re not the boss of them. It is not your job to punish other drivers for their poor driving.

6. Control emotions.  If you find it hard to control your emotions, see your doctor. You might have other health disorders.

If You Are the Target of Road Rage, Here’s What You Can Do

1. Don’t make it personal. Recognize that an aggressive driver is not necessarily targeting you specifically so don’t retaliate.

2. Be polite and courteous, especially when other drivers are not.

3. Don’t make eye contact. Sometimes simple eye contact can set off an aggressive driver.

4. Keep your distance. If the other driver is behind you, keep your speed steady or pull over safely and let them pass. If they are in front of you, slow down to increase the gap between you and them.

5. Do not stop or get out of your vehicle, if you are harassed and followed.   Don’t go home, either, but drive to the nearest police station or another safe spot.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident caused by an aggressive driver, a personal injury attorney can help protect your legal rights. Please call Hepworth Holzer at (208) 328-6998 or toll-free at (888) 490-0992 for a free potential case review, evaluation and consultation.

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John Kluksdal

John W. Kluksdal has established himself as one of Idaho’s top personal injury litigators. He represents people injured by the negligence and recklessness of others. His current emphases is on motor vehicle accident and medical negligence claims.

Mr. Kluksdal began his legal career working in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and then honed his appellate skills by working for two years for Chief Judge Darrel Perry of the Idaho Court of Appeals. Prior to joining the firm that is now Hepworth Holzer, LLP, Mr. Kluksdal was an attorney for a large Idaho insurance defense firm.

Mr. Kluksdal has been a principal attorney for the firm representing a variety clients. Among his successes are obtaining a $5,000,000.00 judgement for the death of our adult clients’ mother. In addition he was one of the leads in trial for and obtained a $2.2 million judgment for an employee based on breach of a severance agreement contract. In other cases he obtained in $2.93 million judgment in a medical malpractice case where the negligence resulted in a partial spinal cord injury, a $1.85 million judgment in a wrongful death case, a $1.123 million judgment for medical malpractice resulting in a serious infection, and a $1 million settlement in a medical malpractice wrongful death case. Mr. Kluksdal has of course represented many other clients in smaller cases, and has participated in many of the firm’s other significant results. He is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review rated by his peers in Martindale Hubbell.

Mr. Kluksdal is a member of the Idaho State Bar and is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Idaho, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal Court of Claims. His other professional associations included the American Inn of Court No. 130 and the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Kluksdal was chosen as a Rising Star by Mountain States Superlawyers from 2008-2012, and as a SuperLawyer from 2015-2019. Mr. Kluksdal is very involved with his undergraduate Alma Mater, the College of Idaho, and has served on the College of Idaho National Alumni Board. He has in the past served on the Board of Directors for the Idaho Rush Soccer Club.

Mr. Kluksdal graduated magna cum laude from the University of Idaho, College of Law in 1997. During law school, he worked in the University’s Legal Aid Clinic, was a tutor for first-year law students, was a member of the Board of Student Advocates, and was President of Delta Theta Phi. Mr. Kluksdal received his undergraduate degree in History from the College of Idaho, cum laude with a minor in Sociology/Anthropology. He received his State of Idaho Secondary Teaching Certificate and was Captain of the Varsity Baseball team.

Mr. Kluksdal is happily married to another attorney, and together they do their best to keep up with three children. In an effort to win the battle of the bulge, he has played city league sports and participates in a variety of other outdoor activities. Mr. Kluksdal has coached youth baseball, basketball and soccer because he enjoys the challenge of herding cats.

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