Kentuckians Rank Too High on List of Aggressive Driving

A sad event: Kentucky drivers have landed in the Top Ten states with the most aggressive drivers, according to a recent study. The smartphone app GasBuddy released a study a couple of weeks ago finding that Kentucky ranks as the ninth highest state where aggressive driving is a problem. They point out that aggressive driving is the quickest way to waste gas, lower mileage by as much as 40 percent, and cause more frequent trips to the pump – and, of course, that’s not the only problem associated with aggressive driving. The methodology of the study was to determine the amount of time between “aggressive driving events” such as cutting other drivers off, hard braking (sudden stops) following too closely, and sudden acceleration/speeding, all of which are cited by law enforcement as symptoms of this dangerous driving habit.  The following are the states on the GasBuddy Top Ten:  

State	Frequency of Event in Minutes	Average Speed
California	6.6	39
Connecticut	8.2	36
Georgia	8.2	44
Texas	8.3	42
North Carolina	8.6	41
New Jersey	8.7	36
Delaware	8.9	34
Florida	8.9	39
Kentucky	9.1	42
Arizona	9.4	44

Data was compiled from GasBuddy’s Trips feature, which provides drivers with an assessment of their driving habits to help participants improve fuel efficiency and map-out when and where a poor driving habit occurred. GasBuddy examined tens of millions of trips in all of the continental U.S. states from December 2017 through March 2018. The examination noted aggressive driving events and their frequency, but made no distinction as to whether drivers were speeding, hard braking or accelerating. “With gas prices expected to continue to rise well into the summer months, simply being aware of how you drive can dramatically lower fuel costs, prevent damage to your vehicle, and make the roads safer for everyone,” says Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

Kentucky Law Enforcement “Gets it”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet classifies aggressive drivers as “high-risk,” those who take their frustration out on anybody, anytime they’re driving. And though the toll that aggressive driving takes on the public in the form of accidents, injuries and property damage is hard to quantify, in 2009, the American Automobile Association tried to analyze data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatal Accident Report System (FARS). They found that aggressive driving contributed to over half (56 percent) of deadly crashes from 2003 to 2007. According to NHTSA, aggressive driving accounts for approximately one-third of Kentucky’s collisions. Law enforcement has been trying to target crackdowns on those who drive aggressively for at least the past 10 years.

We Can Also Fight Aggressive Drivers Ourselves . . . but Carefully

You never know when you’ll encounter an aggressive driver. When it happens, for everyone’s safety you should avoid confrontation or argument. Avoid making eye contact; don’t engage or provoke them. If you think that aggressive driver is a threat to public safety, pick up your cellphone and report them to the police. When you make that call or text, be able to describe their aggressive behavior, their vehicle and license plate number, and the location where the incident occurred. If you or a family member has been injured by an aggressive (or any negligent) driver, contact the Billy Johnson Law Firm online, or call us today to schedule a free consultation.