On Sunday July 17th, 2016 members of the Portland Police Bureau, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office partnered for the third year in a row to target aggressive and speeding drivers on I-84. Deputies and Portland Police Officers stopped 93 vehicles during the mission and 88 citations were issued, top speed during the mission was a motorcycle at 100 mph. Two drivers were arrested for outstanding warrants.
According to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety about 87 percent of drivers engaged in at least one risky behavior while behind the wheel in January 2016. These unsafe behaviors include driving while distracted, impaired, drowsy, speeding, running red lights or not wearing a seat belt. These disturbing results come as nearly 33,000 Americans died in car crashes in 2014, and preliminary estimates project a nine percent increase in deaths for 2015.
The same report shows that about 48 percent of all drivers reported going 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway in January of this year, while 15 percent reported doing it on a regular basis. Previous research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that speed plays a factor in nearly 10,000 deaths per year. Drivers are more likely to be seriously injured or killed at higher speeds and speeding increases the risk of being in a crash because there is less time and distance available to respond. On average a daytime driver takes 1.5 to 1.6 seconds to respond to an event that occurs, this perception reaction time increases to 2.5 seconds during nighttime or limited visibly.
In July 2016 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported that nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year. According to the study the most alarming findings show that approximately eight million U.S. drivers engaged in extreme examples of road rage, including purposefully ramming another vehicle or getting out of the car to confront another driver.
"Inconsiderate driving, bad traffic and the daily stresses of life can transform minor frustrations into dangerous road rage," said Jurek Grabowski, Director of Research for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly."
A significant number of U.S. drivers reported engaging in angry and aggressive behaviors over the past year, according to the study's estimates. Over 51 percent of drivers reported intentionally tailgating, 47 percent reported yelling at other drivers, 45 percent admit to honking to intentionally annoy other drivers and 24 percent admit to intentionally cutting off or blocking other vehicles.
AAA offers these tips to help prevent road rage. Don't be offended, be tolerant and forgiving but must important do not respond to aggressive drivers. Avoid eye contact, maintain space around your vehicle and contact 911 if appropriate.
According to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety about 87 percent of drivers engaged in at least one risky behavior while behind the wheel in January 2016. These unsafe behaviors include driving while distracted, impaired, drowsy, speeding, running red lights or not wearing a seat belt. These disturbing results come as nearly 33,000 Americans died in car crashes in 2014, and preliminary estimates project a nine percent increase in deaths for 2015.
The same report shows that about 48 percent of all drivers reported going 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway in January of this year, while 15 percent reported doing it on a regular basis. Previous research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that speed plays a factor in nearly 10,000 deaths per year. Drivers are more likely to be seriously injured or killed at higher speeds and speeding increases the risk of being in a crash because there is less time and distance available to respond. On average a daytime driver takes 1.5 to 1.6 seconds to respond to an event that occurs, this perception reaction time increases to 2.5 seconds during nighttime or limited visibly.
In July 2016 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported that nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year. According to the study the most alarming findings show that approximately eight million U.S. drivers engaged in extreme examples of road rage, including purposefully ramming another vehicle or getting out of the car to confront another driver.
"Inconsiderate driving, bad traffic and the daily stresses of life can transform minor frustrations into dangerous road rage," said Jurek Grabowski, Director of Research for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly."
A significant number of U.S. drivers reported engaging in angry and aggressive behaviors over the past year, according to the study's estimates. Over 51 percent of drivers reported intentionally tailgating, 47 percent reported yelling at other drivers, 45 percent admit to honking to intentionally annoy other drivers and 24 percent admit to intentionally cutting off or blocking other vehicles.
AAA offers these tips to help prevent road rage. Don't be offended, be tolerant and forgiving but must important do not respond to aggressive drivers. Avoid eye contact, maintain space around your vehicle and contact 911 if appropriate.