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Maryland driving lesson · Dangerous Driving Behaviors

Aggressive driving & road rage

A 2-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Dangerous Driving Behaviors
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
34

Crowded roads, delays, rushing, construction and stress push people toward aggressive driving. You must respect and cooperate with everyone on the road and follow all rules. Staying calm is a safety skill.

Examples of aggressive driving:

  • Speeding
  • Tailgating
  • Ignoring traffic signals and devices
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Not yielding the right-of-way
  • Unsafe or illegal passing
Handbook p. 34 ↗

What can cause aggressive driving:

  • Crowded roads
  • Unexpected delays
  • Rushing
  • Road construction
  • Stress
Handbook p. 34 ↗

To avoid an aggressive driving incident:

  • Allow extra time to travel
  • Be patient
  • Be courteous
  • Focus on your own driving
  • Always signal your intentions
  • Obey all laws, signs, signals and markings
  • Yield the right-of-way
  • Avoid competing with other drivers
Handbook p. 34 ↗

Know the rule

You must respect and cooperate with all other people using the road, and follow all rules, to keep everyone safe and avoid crashes.

Handbook p. 34 ↗

Know the rule

A good general rule: treat other drivers and road users the way you would like to be treated.

Handbook p. 34 ↗

Tailgating

Driving too close behind the vehicle in front of you. It's one of the listed forms of aggressive driving.

Handbook p. 34 ↗

Put it into practice

A driver cuts in front of you and slows down. Don't speed up to retaliate or ride their bumper. Drop back, let them go, and keep your focus on your own driving.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Which of these is an example of aggressive driving listed in the handbook?
  1. Using a turn signal early
  2. Yielding the right-of-way
  3. Driving at the posted speed limit
  4. Tailgating or unsafe lane changes

Answer: Tailgating or unsafe lane changes

Aggressive driving examples include speeding, tailgating, ignoring signals, unsafe lane changes, and not yielding.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
What is one tip the handbook gives for reducing the chance of an aggressive driving incident?
  1. Allow extra time to travel
  2. Drive as fast as traffic allows
  3. Compete with aggressive drivers
  4. Follow closely to discourage cutting in

Answer: Allow extra time to travel

Allowing extra travel time reduces the pressure that can lead to aggressive driving.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
According to the handbook, what commonly causes people to drive aggressively?
  1. Clear roads with light traffic
  2. Crowded roads, unexpected delays, and stress
  3. Driving during daylight hours
  4. Following posted speed limits

Answer: Crowded roads, unexpected delays, and stress

Crowded roads, delays, rushing, construction, and stress can all lead to aggressive driving.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
You should always signal your intentions to let other drivers know what you plan to do.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Signaling your intentions is a recommended way to reduce aggressive driving incidents.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Competing with other aggressive drivers is an effective way to avoid a road rage incident.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

The handbook advises avoiding competition with other drivers, not engaging in it, to reduce aggressive driving incidents.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
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