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Michigan driving lesson · Emergencies and Special Situations

Aggressive driving and intersection safety

A 3-minute lesson from the Michigan 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
3 minutes
Course unit
Emergencies and Special Situations
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
73, 74

Safe driving takes judgment, reflexes, experience, patience and common sense — at any age. New drivers are still building skill, experienced drivers can slip into "autopilot," and older drivers can benefit from refresher training.

Know the rule

Older drivers can improve through additional training. AAA RoadWise Driver and AARP Driver Safety offer in-person and online refresher courses.

Handbook p. 73 ↗

Aggressive drivers:

  • Run stop signs and red lights
  • Speed, tailgate and weave in and out of traffic
  • Pass on the right when it isn't legal
  • Make improper hand gestures
  • Yell, honk their horns or flash their headlights
Handbook p. 73 ↗

Road rage

When an aggressive-driving situation escalates and a weapon or the vehicle itself is used to assault another driver.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
66%

Share of all traffic fatalities NHTSA estimates are caused by aggressive driving behaviors

Handbook p. 73 ↗

Don't be part of the problem:

  • Someone merges badly? Slow down and give them room
  • Using the left lane and someone tailgates? Move right when safe and let them by
  • Being tailgated? Pull over and let them pass — better in front than on your bumper
  • Never gesture at other drivers; if you made a mistake, let them know you're sorry
Handbook p. 74 ↗

Know the rule

If confronted by an aggressive driver, get out of the way, avoid eye contact and ignore gestures or verbal attacks. Call police if it's safe. If that driver crashes later, stop a safe distance away, wait for police and report what you saw.

Handbook p. 74 ↗

Know the rule

Crashes at intersections cause more traffic fatalities and serious injuries than on any other part of the road.

Handbook p. 74 ↗

At intersections:

  • Check oncoming and cross traffic, pedestrians, signals, signs, markings and road condition
  • Expect others to run signals; when unsure what others will do, let them go first
  • Look twice for motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds
  • If trees, buildings or snow block your view, edge forward slowly until you can see
Handbook p. 74 ↗

Put it into practice

A driver cuts you off merging onto the expressway and waves an angry gesture. Back off, give them room, avoid eye contact and don't gesture back. If they keep driving dangerously, call police when it's safe.

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.

About what percentage of traffic fatalities does NHTSA estimate are linked to aggressive driving behaviors?
  1. 66 percent
  2. 25 percent
  3. 40 percent
  4. 90 percent

Answer: 66 percent

NHTSA has estimated that 66 percent of all traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving behaviors.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
Another driver merges poorly in front of you. What's the recommended response?
  1. Slow down and give them room
  2. Flash your headlights repeatedly to signal them
  3. Sound your horn to warn them off
  4. Accelerate to prevent them from merging ahead of you

Answer: Slow down and give them room

If you see a driver making an ill-advised merge, slow down and give them room rather than getting angry.

Handbook p. 74 ↗
You're driving slowly in the left lane and someone begins tailgating you. What should you do?
  1. Stay put, you have the right of way
  2. Move right when safe and let them pass
  3. Brake suddenly to warn them off
  4. Accelerate to maintain your position ahead of them

Answer: Move right when safe and let them pass

If you're in the left lane and someone tailgates you, move back to the right lane when safe and let faster traffic pass.

Handbook p. 74 ↗
If you're confronted by an aggressive driver, what's the recommended response?
  1. Stop your vehicle and get out to talk
  2. Get out of the way, avoid eye contact, and ignore gestures
  3. Return the gestures to show you won't be intimidated
  4. Make eye contact to show confidence

Answer: Get out of the way, avoid eye contact, and ignore gestures

If confronted by an aggressive driver, try to get out of the way, avoid eye contact, and ignore gestures or verbal attacks.

Handbook p. 74 ↗
Which of these is a listed sign of aggressive driving?
  1. Stopping fully at every stop sign
  2. Running stop signs and tailgating
  3. Signaling every lane change
  4. Driving at the posted speed limit

Answer: Running stop signs and tailgating

Aggressive drivers run stop signs and red lights, speed, and tailgate, among other risky behaviors.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
Your view of an intersection is blocked by piled snow. What should you do?
  1. Proceed at normal speed while sounding your horn
  2. Pull fully into the crosswalk to look
  3. Speed through to limit your exposure
  4. Edge forward slowly until you can see past the obstruction

Answer: Edge forward slowly until you can see past the obstruction

When your view is blocked at an intersection, edge forward slowly until you can see past whatever is blocking it.

Handbook p. 74 ↗
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