How to Identify Signs of Aggressive Driving: Spotting Dangerous Motorists and Protecting Your CDL

Let's look at some typical aggressive drivers and how they impact CMV operations. Sally the Speeder wants to get to her destination as quickly as possible. She ignores the speed limit. For a CMV driver, this is critical. A loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 65 mph takes 40% longer to stop—nearly 600 feet—than a passenger car. Sally cuts that margin of safety. Tom the Tailgater fails to allow enough space between his car and your bumper. He may not realize that if you roll backward on an incline or if there is debris on the road you straddle but he hits, He is in danger. Or, he might be a fellow trucker trying to draft or push you to go faster. Lonnie the Lane Changer cuts corners to get where he wants quickly. He weaves between lanes. For you, Lonnie is often invisible in your no zones—the large blind spots on the sides, rear, and front of your truck. Unyielding. Youssef waits for no one. He won't yield for merging trucks, forcing you to adjust your speed or change lanes with a heavy load. Which creates instability. Sam the Sign Ignorer disobeys traffic signals and signs. He may run red lights or ignore truck route or low bridge signs. While he's ignoring the rules, he's putting everyone at risk, disrupting the flow you rely on to maintain momentum and fuel efficiency. Annie the Abrupt Stopper fails to slow down gradually. She waits until the last minute to exit, often cutting across the nose of your truck to make the ramp, forcing you to slam on the brakes. Norm the Non-Signaler can't be bothered to signal. When you are managing 70 feet of vehicle, you need communication. His failure to signal surprises you, and you cannot react as instantly as a car can. Karen the Cut-Off Queen pulls in front of trucks, removing your safe following distance. Every cut requires you to back off to re-establish your safety gap. What makes these drivers aggressive? They may be skirting rules to save time. Each of these behaviors constitutes violations of state traffic laws and, when combined, creates a high-liability environment for professional drivers. Now, take a look in the mirror. Which ones do you resemble? Even professional drivers can slip into these habits under pressure. Are you tailgating because the truck in front is governed 2 miles per hour slower than you? Look and learn, driver.