Irresponsible Drivers on the Road this Holiday Season

Driver safety is extremely important, which is why most high schools offer a driver education class, and why all states require a license to drive. We want to know that the people we share the road with know the laws they are supposed to follow, and we want to make sure that someone has verified that they know how to drive.

Despite these protections, many drivers continue to indulge in risky driving behaviors. Some of these, such as drunk driving, receive some degree of national attention (though not as much as they should). Distracted driving, such as texting while driving, is starting to garner more attention from the media. But there are a number of other dangerous behaviors that are much too common on the roads. These behaviors include:

• Running red lights and stop signs, particularly in communities with short yellow lights, which often results in t-bone accidents
• Failure to yield, increasing the risk of a head on collision
• Not signaling lane changes or turns, increasing the likelihood of a rear-end collision
• Passing on the right, or driving in another driver’s “blind spot,” which increased the chances of a variety of collisions
• Speeding

Just because someone isn’t drinking and driving or texting and driving doesn’t mean they aren’t drastically increasing the likelihood of accidents. And some of these behaviors, such as running red lights and speeding, are associated with increased risks of serious injury and death.

Holding drivers accountable for the accidents they cause is extremely important. Too many people see no harm in speeding or driving too aggressively, and will continue to do so even after their actions have resulted in harm to other people.

If you or someone you love has been injured due to irresponsible driving by another party, it is up to you to make sure that person is held responsible. Though the police might or might not issue a citation, a citation alone isn’t likely to change the person’s behavior. Please, retain an experienced attorney to help you hold the guilty party responsible for their dangerous behavior.