Tampa Bay Ranks in Top 20 for Most Aggressive Drivers
Florida drivers have been consistently ranked as some of the worst in the nation. Now, according to a report by Gas Buddy, Florida cities also rank among those with aggressive drivers. Tampa-St. Petersburg came in at number 19 out of major metro areas. According to the report, Tampa Bay drivers are 2% more aggressive than the average U.S. driver. There were a number of different aggressive driving indicators where Tampa Bay ranked higher than average.
Speeding
Aggressive drivers frequently drive at high rates of speed. This can be extremely dangerous to other drivers as speeders can easily lose control of their vehicle. In addition, collisions at higher rates of speed can cause more serious injuries. Tampa Bay drivers have 12.6 percent more speeding incidents than the average U.S. driver. The area ranked 11th for most speeding incidents.
Hard Braking
Aggressive drivers also drive close to other cars, tailgate, and press hard on their brakes. This is very dangerous to other drivers. It can lead to rear-end collisions and other serious accidents. Tampa Bay has had fewer hard-braking incidents than the average U.S. driver.
Rapid Acceleration
Rapid acceleration is another common and dangerous behavior displayed by aggressive drivers. Rapid acceleration can lead to collisions with bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles who are unable to predict the driver’s behavior. Tampa Bay drivers were 1.2% more likely to engage in rapid acceleration, and the area ranked 15th for most rapid acceleration instances.
Aggressive Driving Dangers
Aggressive drivers let their emotions get in the way of their reason and make dangerous decisions on the road. In addition to speeding, hard braking, and rapid acceleration, drivers often take their attention off the road in efforts to intimidate other drivers with words and gestures. In some cases, aggressive driving can turn into road rage, which can lead to violent behavior.
Contact an Experienced Tampa Bay Attorney
If you’ve been injured in an accident with an aggressive driver, you may want an experienced Tampa Bay accident attorney on your side. The attorneys at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk have been helping accident victims for over 30 years. Contact us online or call us at 800-538-4878 to set up your free consultation today.