Defintion of Aggressive Driving:  Survey Results

Dr. Leon James
Dr. Diane Nahl
About two dozen state legislatures are currently reviewing aggressive driving bills. A common formula being proposed is to count three occurrences of the specified aggressive behaviors within a few minutes of each other. This will constitute grounds for a traffic arrest and jail if convicted. People need to express their opinion about what driver behaviors should be included and what should not be included in such a list. Please vote for each item by selecting Definitely Yes, Definitely No, or in between. This will help law makers make reasonable definitions. There are 36 questions and you can add a comment at the end.

These results are updated regularly. Current results: July 24, 2000. Soon I'll be writing up an article with a breakdown of the results in terms of age group, gender, type of car driven, and driving philosophy. It will be accessible from DrDriving's entry page. In the meantime you can consult the write up of earlier surveys accessible from there.

Contacts:  Email: DrDriving@DrDriving.org

Which behaviors should be defined as part of "aggressive driving"?

July 2000

01. Each time you go through a red light (engaging the intersection when already red)

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 20 15.50%
Definitely Yes 75 58.14%
Neutral 8 6.20%
No 7 5.43%
Yes 19 14.73%


02. Each time you go through an amber light (visibly speeding up to make it, not just getting caught in it)

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 28 21.71%
Definitely Yes 24 18.60%
Neutral 31 24.03%
No 19 14.73%
Yes 27 20.93%


03. Each time you switch a lane without signaling first

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 22 17.19%
Definitely Yes 34 26.56%
Neutral 26 20.31%
No 13 10.16%
Yes 33 25.78%


04. Each time you make a turn without signaling

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 26 20.47%
Definitely Yes 40 31.50%
Neutral 21 16.54%
No 7 5.51%
Yes 33 25.98%


05. Each time you go over the speed limit by more than 1 mile

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 81 63.78%
Definitely Yes 15 11.81%
Neutral 12 9.45%
No 13 10.24%
Yes 6 4.72%


06. Each time you go over the speed limit by more than 5 miles

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 55 42.97%
Definitely Yes 12 9.38%
Neutral 26 20.31%
No 18 14.06%
Yes 17 13.28%


07. Each time you go over the speed limit by more than 10 miles

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 30 23.62%
Definitely Yes 34 26.77%
Neutral 21 16.54%
No 17 13.39%
Yes 25 19.69%


08. Each time you go over the speed limit by more than 15 miles

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 26 20.31%
Definitely Yes 57 44.53%
Neutral 16 12.50%
No 6 4.69%
Yes 23 17.97%


09. Each time you go over the speed limit by more than 20 miles

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 28 21.71%
Definitely Yes 75 58.14%
Neutral 6 4.65%
No 5 3.88%
Yes 15 11.63%


10. Each time you go over the speed limit by more than 25 miles

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 30 23.44%
Definitely Yes 83 64.84%
Neutral 5 3.91%
No 3 2.34%
Yes 7 5.47%


11. Each time you tailgate a car to pressure the driver to go faster

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 14 10.85%
Definitely Yes 69 53.49%
Neutral 15 11.63%
No 10 7.75%
Yes 21 16.28%


12. Each time you tailgate a car to punish the driver for something

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 15 11.63%
Definitely Yes 81 62.79%
Neutral 9 6.98%
No 6 4.65%
Yes 18 13.95%


13. Each time you tailgate a car to pressure the driver to move over

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 23 17.83%
Definitely Yes 67 51.94%
Neutral 15 11.63%
No 7 5.43%
Yes 17 13.18%


14. Each time you close the gap to prevent another car from coming in your lane

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 23 18.11%
Definitely Yes 30 23.62%
Neutral 33 25.98%
No 13 10.24%
Yes 28 22.05%


15. Each time you drive without a valid driver license.

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 26 20.16%
Definitely Yes 67 51.94%
Neutral 18 13.95%
No 4 3.10%
Yes 14 10.85%


16. Each time you drive with an alcohol level above the legal limit

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 23 17.97%
Definitely Yes 83 64.84%
Neutral 6 4.69%
No 4 3.12%
Yes 12 9.38%


17. Each time you drive while drowsy enough to have droopy eyes

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 19 14.96%
Definitely Yes 29 22.83%
Neutral 35 27.56%
No 17 13.39%
Yes 27 21.26%


18. Each time you drive and use a hand held cellular phone when not in an emergency situation

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 27 21.09%
Definitely Yes 30 23.44%
Neutral 33 25.78%
No 13 10.16%
Yes 25 19.53%


19. Each time you drive and engage in non-emergency communication activities like making reservations, getting or sending e-mail, getting Internet based stocks, news, etc.

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 31 24.41%
Definitely Yes 39 30.71%
Neutral 23 18.11%
No 8 6.30%
Yes 26 20.47%


20. Each time you drive in a car whose windows are dark tinted enough so other drivers cannot see you

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 49 38.89%
Definitely Yes 23 18.25%
Neutral 24 19.05%
No 13 10.32%
Yes 17 13.49%


21. Each time you drive and other drivers can hear your radio or music blasting loud enough that it can be clearly heard in an adjacent car whose windows are up

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 32 25.00%
Definitely Yes 39 30.47%
Neutral 19 14.84%
No 16 12.50%
Yes 22 17.19%


22. Each time you unmistakably rev your engine in order to intimidate someone or to show them your displeasure

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 32 25.60%
Definitely Yes 29 23.20%
Neutral 23 18.40%
No 14 11.20%
Yes 27 21.60%


23. Each time you get to a traffic light and stop too close behind another car (you cannot see the other car's tires)

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 43 34.13%
Definitely Yes 14 11.11%
Neutral 29 23.02%
No 21 16.67%
Yes 19 15.08%


24. Each time you approach too fast another car that's stopped, fast enough that the other driver feels threatened

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 23 18.40%
Definitely Yes 32 25.60%
Neutral 33 26.40%
No 11 8.80%
Yes 26 20.80%


25. Each time you follow too close and keep it up for more than one minute (even when you're travelling in a pack)

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 19 14.96%
Definitely Yes 40 31.50%
Neutral 32 25.20%
No 11 8.66%
Yes 25 19.69%


26. Each time you're cruising in the passing lane, refusing to move over as soon as you can

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 23 18.11%
Definitely Yes 47 37.01%
Neutral 20 15.75%
No 12 9.45%
Yes 25 19.69%


27. Each time you're waiting in traffic and blocking an exit or intersection, when you could have stopped sooner

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 22 17.19%
Definitely Yes 24 18.75%
Neutral 26 20.31%
No 14 10.94%
Yes 42 32.81%


28. Each time you can be seen making an obscene gesture at another road user

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 29 23.20%
Definitely Yes 56 44.80%
Neutral 12 9.60%
No 10 8.00%
Yes 18 14.40%


29. Each time you can be heard hurling an insult to another road user

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 27 21.09%
Definitely Yes 54 42.19%
Neutral 16 12.50%
No 12 9.38%
Yes 19 14.84%


30. Each time you don't make a full stop at a stop sign

Answer Count Percent
Definitely No 25 19.69%
Definitely Yes 24 18.90%
Neutral 36 28.35%
No 16 12.60%
Yes 26 20.47%


31. What's your age group?

Answer Count Percent
12 to 24 12 9.38%
14 or less 1 0.78%
15 to 24 17 13.28%
25 to 54 80 62.50%
55 or more 18 14.06%


32. Gender:

Answer Count Percent
Female 52 40.94%
Male 75 59.06%


33. Describe the car you own or would like to own.

Answer Count Percent
toyata torcille 1 0.86%
Own Mazda MPV 2000 1 0.86%
'94 Taurus 1 0.86%
1970 Benz 1 0.86%
1981 Dodge Ram Van. I own this vehicle because it's made of real metal, capable of withstanding an accident without folding me in -- high enough to see above and over other vehicles,thus being able to predict upcoming/immediate traffic problems. 1 0.86%
1989 Buick Grand National 1 0.86%
1990 Honda Civic 2 1.72%
1990 Pontiac Formula Firebird 1 0.86%
1993 Saturn 1 0.86%
1994 Ford Escort 1 0.86%
1995 Hyundai Sonata 1 0.86%
1997 Honda Civic EX (Two door) 1 0.86%
1997 chev trk 1 0.86%