The enraged cab driver who hopped over a Midtown curb and slammed into a young tourist has reportedly admitted that’s he’s a bad driver and doesn’t belong behind the wheel. According to FOX News, the 24-year-old cab driver acknowledged that he was not authorized to operate the cab that slammed into the 23-year-old pedestrians — likely costing her both legs. Racking up quite the list of moving violation, the driver finally admits that his job is too stressful and it’s time to find a new occupation.
The truth of the matter is that driving anywhere in New York can be stressful. It’s what we do with our feelings and our emotions behind the wheel that can help to determine the outcome of our trip. Oftentimes, it’s pedestrians, bicyclists and other more vulnerable travelers who are injured and killed in these accidents — accidents caused by the irresponsible and irrational driving behavior of others.
Our Manhattan pedestrian accident lawyers understand that aggressive driving happens “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” Some places even define aggressive driving as “the operation of a motor vehicle involving three or more moving violations as part of a single continuous sequence of driving acts, which is likely to endanger any person or property.”
Whichever way you want to describe it — it’s dangerous!
Did You Know?
-The most common, and the most obvious, form of aggressive driving is speeding, particularly in areas with congested traffic or in bad weather.
-Speed contributes to about a third of all traffic accident fatalities.
-Experts say aggressive driving behaviors are triggered by a variety of stimuli. Some are provoked by the actions of another driver; others are set off by roadway congestion. But, most are caused by the drivers’ own moods and reactions when they’re in the driver’s seat.
-Approximately 6,800,000 crashes occur in the United States each year; a substantial number are estimated to be caused by aggressive driving.
-Road rage requires willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others.
But we all get a little aggravated behind the wheel. It’s how we deal with this aggression that can make or break our safety. Please review the following tips to help you keep your cool behind the wheel:
-Always follow the road laws.
-Use your horn sparingly.
-Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. This will help to avoid speeding and will help to calm your nerves.
-Always follow at a safe distance. Never tailgate.
-If you encounter an erratic driver, put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. They may be driving that way because of an actual emergency!
-Your fingers have a place; it’s on the steering wheel. Don’t light someone’s fuse with an obscene gesture because it’s one of the fastest ways to anger another driver.
-Take action before stress and fatigue get to you. Learn to spot warning signs and act on them.
-If you are dealing with an aggressive driver, make sure your doors are locked. If you’re stopped in traffic, leave enough room to pull out from behind the car you’re following. If an aggressive driver confronts you, dial 911 or go to the nearest police station.
-The most important action you can take to avoid aggressive driving take place inside your head. By changing your approach to driving, you can make every trip more pleasant.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a traffic accident, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC for s free consultation. Call 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
New York Traffic Safety Watch: Cognitive Distraction the Biggest Threat, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, August 5, 2013
Heat and Tires, Causing Motorist Headaches Across New York, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, July 15, 2013
