The New York State Police define an aggressive driver as “one who operates a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold or pushy manner, without regard for the rights or safety of the other users of the streets and highways.”

A study commissioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA) revealed that 40 percent of drivers in the survey felt aggressive driving posed the greatest threat to highway safety.

Another AAA study showed that aggressive drivers represented all age groups and educational backgrounds and had various levels of success. Only some had previous criminal histories, while others had clean driving records.

There may be many reasons why a driver acts aggressively, some related to the traffic conditions at the time and others to the driver’s personal or work life problems.

Studies have shown aggressive behavior may include:

• flashing lights at cars
• unsafe tailgating
• making rude gestures
• verbal and physical abuse