Aggressive driving a factor in majority of traffic fatalities

Aggressive driving contributed to 56 percent of traffic fatalities between 2003 and 2007, according to an American Automobile Association study. The study made use of data gathered by the Fatal Accident Report System, a project of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drivers on South Carolina roadways should be wary of behaviors that constitute aggressive driving.

The study assumed aggressive driving if a crash resulted from passing in prohibited zones, failure to yield, failure to obey traffic signals, erratic or improper lane changing, racing or making an improper turn. Other behaviors that qualified as aggressive driving for purposes of the study include illegally driving on the shoulder or sidewalk, operating a motor vehicle recklessly, carelessly or negligently, changing speeds suddenly and driving at an excessive speed.

In a later study, the NHTSA found that speeding was the most common driver behavior in fatal traffic accidents in 2014, contributing to 18.8 percent of fatal crashes. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was a factor in 12.3 percent of cases, and distracted driving contributed in 6.7 percent of cases. Running off of the road or failure to maintain a lane contributed to 8.5 percent of fatal crashes.

Other factors that contributed to fatal traffic accidents in 2014 included oversteering or overcorrecting, which was a factor in 4.1 percent of fatal crashes, and obscured vision due to obstructions, glare, rain, snow or trees.

Individuals who have been injured in car accidents caused by the reckless or negligent behavior of another motorist often face high medical bills and other expenses. They may want to meet with a personal injury attorney to see how best to seek compensation for these losses.