Is Aggressive Driving a Traffic Violation? What You Need To Know
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Everyone knows it can get a little tense out on the road, but when frustration crosses the line to aggression, there can be consequences. But is aggressive driving a traffic violation? When speed, harassment, recklessness, and endangerment are involved, it absolutely can be.
Besides earning you a ticket and a possible court date, aggressive driving can also be a factor in increased insurance rates. Save yourself the danger, embarrassment, and cost by understanding how serious aggressive driving can be.
What Is Considered Aggressive Driving?
Aggressive driving may include any combination of unsafe and intentional driving behaviors arising from anger on the road. AAA found that almost 80% of drivers felt significant frustration while driving, which can inspire aggressive driving.
Some of these behaviors may include:
- Speeding or weaving in traffic
- Tailgating
- Brake-checking, or cutting someone off to then put on the brakes
- Going through red lights
- Changing lanes without signals
- Blocking lane changes or merges for other vehicles
- Keeping brights on to visually disrupt other drivers
- Changing lanes without enough room
- Honking or hand gestures
In the worst case, aggressive driving may turn into road rage. Road rage includes targeted and potentially violent behaviors against another driver, such as:
- Following the driver
- Yelling or making gestures
- Ramming or sideswiping another vehicle
- Forcing another driver off the road
- Escalating to physical violence and assault when both vehicles are pulled over.
Aggressive driving and road rage can get you in legal trouble and can lead to injury or death.
Is Aggressive Driving Classified as a Traffic Violation?
While you might not get a ticket for honking at someone who cuts you off, other features of aggressive driving are clear traffic violations that can lead to legal and financial consequences. While local laws vary, you won't typically get a ticket for "aggressive driving," but rather one that cites the law you broke, such as going over the speed limit or unsafe lane changes.
Aggressive driving often involves a combination of traffic violations, all of which may be ticketable. However, as discussed below, the legal penalties for aggressive driving don't end at tickets.
What Are the Legal Penalties for Aggressive Driving?
Legal penalties for aggressive driving correspond with those for the associated moving violation. Specific moving violations and ticketable offenses that may be associated with legal penalties are:
- Speeding: In the U.S., speeding tickets are usually around $150 on average. But they can go up to $2,500 and may result in points on your license.
- Tailgating: Following too closely may lead to a ticket of $100 to $150 in some regions. You may also receive points on your license, particularly if the tailgating was meant to antagonize.
- Unsafe lane changing: Unsafe lane changes, such as weaving through traffic, can result in tickets of several hundred dollars and points on your license.
- Running red lights: Tickets for going through a red light (especially combined with speeding) are generally under $200, but depending on the state, they can go up to $1,000 for a first offense. Further complications like repeat offenses or resultant injury can increase these costs.
- Reckless driving: The average maximum cost of a reckless driving ticket is $845 nationally but can range up to over $6,000 in some regions. It often comes with jail time ranging from one to three days and points on your license.
Moving violations can come with fines that increase at each incident or based on the seriousness of the infraction. A first-time offense going through a red light may only cost $200, but the second time could be $300. If a person is injured as the result of running a red, the whole ticket could bump up an extra $500, depending on local laws. It's difficult to estimate the true cost of driving aggressively until an officer hands you a ticket.
Tickets and points on your license are just the first stage of legal consequences for aggressive driving. If you commit enough of these infractions, your license could be suspended. Living without a license is not only inconvenient, it is also costly. Aggressive driving that occurs while also driving under the influence can result in jail time. The legal consequences of aggressive driving are extensive.
How Does Aggressive Driving Affect Your Insurance Rates?
A significant part of your insurance rates includes your driving history. Your driving history is a record of any accidents, tickets, or criminal arrests related to driving (DUI, driving with a suspended license, etc.) you have had. Aggressive driving and insurance rates don't make a great combo.
Sometimes, the inevitable results of aggressive driving can affect your insurance rates even without a legal aspect. Following too closely is a common cause of car accidents. Liability is generally assigned to the driver who was tailgating because they should be the ones to modulate distance. Since you caused the accident, your insurance company must pay for repairs and will earn that money back by increasing your rates.
If you have a tracking device or app used by your insurance company to reduce your rates, remember that this data can also reveal your driving behavior before an incident of aggressive driving that leads to an accident. The ticket cost may be minimal compared to increases in insurance rates after an at-fault claim due to aggressive driving or a ticket.
While these rates are highly subjective, some facts paint an unfortunate picture for those convicted of reckless driving:
- Drivers in Michigan see an average 163% increase after a reckless driving ticket. If they were paying $1,000 in premiums per year previously, they would now pay $2,630. Though this is the shockingly high end of rate increases, many others will see increases ranging from around 35% to 100% after a reckless driving ticket.
- Some drivers with a history of reckless driving will be "non-renewed" or dropped by their auto insurance carrier. Due to this poor driving history, finding a new carrier may be difficult and expensive.
- Drivers with a history of aggressive driving resulting in accidents, tickets, or criminal convictions may need to seek high-risk insurance. They may pay an extra $565 per year on minimum coverage.
What Steps Can You Take To Avoid Aggressive Driving?
You are responsible for avoiding aggressive driving to be safe on the road. One of the best ways to drive safely is to remain calm even in frustrating situations. This may mean taking deep breaths, leaving earlier to avoid stressful slow-downs, or playing music that keeps you feeling calm.
If you want some assistance staying in control while driving, you can take a defensive driving course. Some insurance companies will even offer better rates to drivers who complete these courses. It is also essential to remember the consequences of aggressive driving, which can include:
- An increase in insurance rates
- Traffic tickets
- Criminal charges,
- Injury to yourself or others
If you're looking for a lower insurance rate after an aggressive driving incident, start by getting quotes. It only takes a few minutes to see if you can save on today's best rates.