[UnknownSpiritX5]

The term, aggressive driver, is tossed around in this forum a lot. But I'm not quite sure what they mean by it. I.e "Unlike the standard driver, I drive more aggressively at times"

In this term, how would you define aggressive driving/driver. How would you define it in general? What exactly is "safe aggressive driving". What is "standard, economy class driving?

I need to get some of these terms clear .

[enigmaticdream]

i define an aggressive driver who uses no indicators, switches lanes without looking, drives fast without the idea of maintaining a "line" (i.e. looking ahead to find the best possible pass to maintain desired speed without affecting other drivers), cuts one off.

[Kroy]

Originally Posted by enigmaticdream

i define an aggressive driver who uses no indicators, switches lanes without looking, drives fast without the idea of maintaining a "line" (i.e. looking ahead to find the best possible pass to maintain desired speed without affecting other drivers), cuts one off.

That sounds a bit more than being aggressive.

[NiVeDh]

I think with reference to fuel economy, an aggressive driver would stomp on the accelerator every chance they got and brake hard while a standard driver would be smoother. I don't know.

[enigmaticdream]

Originally Posted by Kroy

That sounds a bit more than being aggressive.

I've seen them. They are no good to the flow of traffic. The best way to drive is looking far enough ahead to find the perfect line to keep your speed without bothering others.

[tony20009]

oops

[tony20009]

Aggressive driving, like any other aggressive behavior, is likely not safe for at least one person, if not for others. Thus, I don't think there is such a thing as "safe, aggressive driving."

I also thing "aggressive" is a poor adjective for describing various styles of driving, but I suspect like pornography, one cannot exactly define it (at least 9 Supreme Court justices could not), but one knows it when one sees it. Broadly speaking, I'd say it's doing anything when you are behind the wheel that is unsafe for you and for other drivers. For certain individuals, the mere act of being behind the wheel of a moving vehicle is enough to be considered aggressive driving.

Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Cutting in front of another driver when it is unavoidable that both the cutter and the cutee will be tailgating. This behavior is most commonly observed when one driver weaves in and out of lanes to move ahead of other drivers. Additionally, such a weaving behavior demonstrates an extreme lack of patience.
- Continually flashing one's high-beans at the driver ahead, particularly when in the leftmost lane and simply turning on the left blinker would be sufficient indication of one's desire for the driver ahead to move to the right and let the driver behind pass. This usage of the high beams is even more aggressive when performed at night.
- Tailgating
- Running a stoplight
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Not moving to the left (or right if that's applicable at the time) to allow other traffic to enter the road when it is possible and safe to have moved to allow them entry.
- Failing to signal lane changes when there are other cars within 500 yards of your car
- Driving more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit when there are other cars present
- Driving, and maintaining position, in another driver's known blind spot(s)- Driving in excess of 100 mph on any American road. The roads here just aren't built and maintained to support safely driving at such speeds. (To understand what I mean, check out some construction and other aspects of the Autobahn and compare them with your observations of U.S. roads. http://maps.unomaha.edu/Peterson/fun...r/Autobahn.htm )
- Driving faster than road, weather and lighting conditions would indicate is safe, not just for you, but for other drivers as well
- Performing any act that is the result of your own anger, boredom, need for speed, etc. that incites the ire of one or more other drivers in your vicinity at the time. Perception is reality.

- Driving in any manner that is inappropriate to the time and place at hand, such as, for example (again not limited to this example), slowing down rather than moving to the right/left when someone is tailgating you. That has to be about the dumbest, most inconsiderate, selfish action I've seen taken in response to being tailgated. Do you really want the tailgater to slam into your car?

Possibly Aggressive depending on the intent of the driver and the circumstances:
- Pulling in front of another driver and then applying your brakes. If you have to brake as soon as you have completed the maneuver, why the hell could you not have just stayed in the lane from which you came, you intransigent cur?

Not necessarily aggressive, but certainly impolite and potentially dangerous:
- Driving in the left lane when you could just as well be driving in the right lane with no change in your pace. Why do Americans think they should just drive along in the left lane? Do they not teach you folks that the left lane is for passing?
- Driving slower (by 10 mph or more) than the general pace of nearby traffic.

Well, now, having tried to offer some examples of "aggressive driving," would you, OP, mind sharing why you asked?

[ultimate]

someone took their time writing that.

[gerardm]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Not necessarily aggressive, but certainly impolite and potentially dangerous:
- Driving in the left lane when you could just as well be driving in the right lane with no change in your pace. Why do Americans think they should just drive along in the left lane? Do they not teach you folks that the left lane is for passing?

omg i cant stand that. i hate when people are just strolling along in the left lane. if people followed the basic rule of staying in the right unless passing a slower vehicle there would be so much less traffic. i cant stand even being in the car when people are doing that.

[tony20009]

Oh, I forgot to...
1 - Accellerating to prevent another driver who is signaling a lane change from moving into what was otherwise a safe space into which to move.

This happened to me just today:
Driving on I81 in fairly heavy traffic, further congested by 18-wheelers hogging the left lane, I was in the right lane. I saw in my rearview mirror that a ice large gap had developed one car behind me in the left lane. Insofar as I was approaching the car ahead of me in my lane, I turned on my signal and waited for the three cars to pass. Sure as God made green apples, the jerk that had allowed the gap (which by rights he should have moved to the right to begin with instead of allowing such a large space -- about 1/4 mile) began to accellearate to close the gap. The reason this ticked me off was that the "jump" was visible as he floored his accellerator, so I am pretty sure the sole reason he sped up was to prevent me from moving into the space.

2 - Passing on the right and/or forcing others to pass on the right. This is especially applicable to folks who use accelleration lanes from on-ramps to pass other drivers already on the road.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by gerardm

omg i cant stand that. i hate when people are just strolling along in the left lane. if people followed the basic rule of staying in the right unless passing a slower vehicle there would be so much less traffic. i cant stand even being in the car when people are doing that.

I hear ya and fully agree!!!

[mdxh99]

Originally Posted by enigmaticdream

i define an aggressive driver who uses no indicators, switches lanes without looking, drives fast without the idea of maintaining a "line" (i.e. looking ahead to find the best possible pass to maintain desired speed without affecting other drivers), cuts one off.

i would say switching lanes w/o looking isn't just aggressive, that's just plain stupidity and an accident waiting to happen

but my idea of aggressive would be maintaining a speed above the posted speed limit, always switching lanes to pass others at every opportunity, trying to get to the front of the lane at a stoplight, impatience, etc.

i think i just described myself

[stickypaws]

You can be an assertive driver without being an aggressive driver.

Aggressive results from aggression. Hence the word. Aggression is attacking or confronting.

Assertive means you are confident and forceful (without aggression)

Good drivers are assertive and not aggressive.

Driver's who don't use turn signals, drift into lanes, etc.. are neither assertive or aggressive. They are just lazy crappy drivers who don't give a shit about anybody else on the road.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by stickypaws

You can be an assertive driver without being an aggressive driver.

Aggressive results from aggression. Hence the word. Aggression is attacking or confronting.

Assertive means you are confident and forceful (without aggression)

Good drivers are assertive and not aggressive.

Driver's who don't use turn signals, drift into lanes, etc.. are neither assertive or aggressive. They are just lazy crappy drivers who don't give a shit about anybody else on the road.

...your comments highlight some of the reasons I said "aggressive" is a poor adjective to describe the intended meaning of the term "aggressive driver"...

[UnknownSpiritX5]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Oh, I forgot to...
1 - Accellerating to prevent another driver who is signaling a lane change from moving into what was otherwise a safe space into which to move.

This happened to me just today:
Driving on I81 in fairly heavy traffic, further congested by 18-wheelers hogging the left lane, I was in the right lane. I saw in my rearview mirror that a ice large gap had developed one car behind me in the left lane. Insofar as I was approaching the car ahead of me in my lane, I turned on my signal and waited for the three cars to pass. Sure as God made green apples, the jerk that had allowed the gap (which by rights he should have moved to the right to begin with instead of allowing such a large space -- about 1/4 mile) began to accellearate to close the gap. The reason this ticked me off was that the "jump" was visible as he floored his accellerator, so I am pretty sure the sole reason he sped up was to prevent me from moving into the space.

2 - Passing on the right and/or forcing others to pass on the right. This is especially applicable to folks who use accelleration lanes from on-ramps to pass other drivers already on the road.

Very detailed answer, thank you. I believe I've encountered much of what you have written here. I definitely hate it when drivers do not signal when turning, or signal way too quickly to get in front of me quickly where I am forced to apply the brakes.

Also, when drivers put their signals on AFTER they switched a lane. It's gotta be the dumbest thing Ive ever seen. Sometimes it even makes me laugh.

The reason I asked was because a lot of BMW drivers, when commenting on a cars performance state something like "Well, I'm an aggressive driver, so I need/feel/want/etc _______" I just wasn't sure what they meant. Personally, by aggressive, I thought they meant "skilled".

Also, i have another question. What exactly is the rule about "passing on the right" as you've mentioned. You've said it is illegal, but what does passing on the right mean? Like, switching to the lane thats to the right of you? Or if there is a car in front of you, and you want to go in front of him, you switch to the right lane and go back in front of him? I'm a little confused.

As for my take, I suppose I can say I drive assertively mostly than aggressively. But I always signal when changing lanes, and I've never thus far tailgaited anyone. I do however speed up when I sense a driver to the lane next to me slowly crouching onto my lane unintentionally because then I'm always having to worry whether or not he's actually going to change lanes. I agree it is sometimes risky since they CAN switch lanes at times, but then again, it would mean they are changing lanes without signaling, which again, is wrong and something that I hate the most.

In terms of not pressing on the gas the moment the green light goes off, would that be called a cautious driver? I mean, it makes sense since so many people run red lights--it's always better to wait a second after the lights change to start moving. So is it my fault for being angry when people honk literally a millisecond after the lights changed? I just think they are too impatient.

[Minefield]

Originally Posted by UnknownSpiritX5

The term, aggressive driver, is tossed around in this forum a lot. But I'm not quite sure what they mean by it. I.e "Unlike the standard driver, I drive more aggressively at times"

In this term, how would you define aggressive driving/driver. How would you define it in general? What exactly is "safe aggressive driving". What is "standard, economy class driving?

I need to get some of these terms clear .

Originally Posted by UnknownSpiritX5

Very detailed answer, thank you. I believe I've encountered much of what you have written here. I definitely hate it when drivers do not signal when turning, or signal way too quickly to get in front of me quickly where I am forced to apply the brakes.

Also, when drivers put their signals on AFTER they switched a lane. It's gotta be the dumbest thing Ive ever seen. Sometimes it even makes me laugh.

The reason I asked was because a lot of BMW drivers, when commenting on a cars performance state something like "Well, I'm an aggressive driver, so I need/feel/want/etc _______" I just wasn't sure what they meant. Personally, by aggressive, I thought they meant "skilled".

Also, i have another question. What exactly is the rule about "passing on the right" as you've mentioned. You've said it is illegal, but what does passing on the right mean? Like, switching to the lane thats to the right of you? Or if there is a car in front of you, and you want to go in front of him, you switch to the right lane and go back in front of him? I'm a little confused.

As for my take, I suppose I can say I drive assertively mostly than aggressively. But I always signal when changing lanes, and I've never thus far tailgaited anyone. I do however speed up when I sense a driver to the lane next to me slowly crouching onto my lane unintentionally because then I'm always having to worry whether or not he's actually going to change lanes. I agree it is sometimes risky since they CAN switch lanes at times, but then again, it would mean they are changing lanes without signaling, which again, is wrong and something that I hate the most.

In terms of not pressing on the gas the moment the green light goes off, would that be called a cautious driver? I mean, it makes sense since so many people run red lights--it's always better to wait a second after the lights change to start moving. So is it my fault for being angry when people honk literally a millisecond after the lights changed? I just think they are too impatient.

Why do I get the sense that you just started to drive and because you drive a BMW, you're trying to drive with more class and etiquette?

[mdxh99]

Originally Posted by AiyahPK

Why do I get the sense that you just started to drive and because you drive a BMW, you're trying to drive with more class and etiquette?

+1 lol so it wasnt just me...

[Mk23]

Originally Posted by tony20009

- Driving more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit when there are other cars present

Shouldn't that read 15 mph faster than traffic and not the speed limit? The majority of drivers around here are almost always going at least 10-15 mph over the limit.

Originally Posted by tony20009

Oh, I forgot to...
1 - Accellerating to prevent another driver who is signaling a lane change from moving into what was otherwise a safe space into which to move.

This happened to me just today:
Driving on I81 in fairly heavy traffic, further congested by 18-wheelers hogging the left lane, I was in the right lane. I saw in my rearview mirror that a ice large gap had developed one car behind me in the left lane. Insofar as I was approaching the car ahead of me in my lane, I turned on my signal and waited for the three cars to pass. Sure as God made green apples, the jerk that had allowed the gap (which by rights he should have moved to the right to begin with instead of allowing such a large space -- about 1/4 mile) began to accellearate to close the gap. The reason this ticked me off was that the "jump" was visible as he floored his accellerator, so I am pretty sure the sole reason he sped up was to prevent me from moving into the space.

2 - Passing on the right and/or forcing others to pass on the right. This is especially applicable to folks who use accelleration lanes from on-ramps to pass other drivers already on the road.

I can see how forcing others to pass on the right is aggressive but don't really see anything wrong with passing on the right when some group of idiots are blocking the middle and left lanes. And for when they are blocking all three lanes and holding up traffic I see nothing wrong with using the acceleration lane as long as there is no traffic entering the highway.

I wouldn't say I am an aggressive driver as much as I am a faster driver, when I am in a hurry and I can shave off 3 to 5 mins. off my drive time I tend to drive a bit faster (obviously not in a reckless manner).

[Mk23]

Originally Posted by UnknownSpiritX5

Very detailed answer, thank you. I believe I've encountered much of what you have written here. I definitely hate it when drivers do not signal when turning, or signal way too quickly to get in front of me quickly where I am forced to apply the brakes.

Also, when drivers put their signals on AFTER they switched a lane. It's gotta be the dumbest thing Ive ever seen. Sometimes it even makes me laugh.

The reason I asked was because a lot of BMW drivers, when commenting on a cars performance state something like "Well, I'm an aggressive driver, so I need/feel/want/etc _______" I just wasn't sure what they meant. Personally, by aggressive, I thought they meant "skilled".

Also, i have another question. What exactly is the rule about "passing on the right" as you've mentioned. You've said it is illegal, but what does passing on the right mean? Like, switching to the lane thats to the right of you? Or if there is a car in front of you, and you want to go in front of him, you switch to the right lane and go back in front of him? I'm a little confused.

As for my take, I suppose I can say I drive assertively mostly than aggressively. But I always signal when changing lanes, and I've never thus far tailgaited anyone. I do however speed up when I sense a driver to the lane next to me slowly crouching onto my lane unintentionally because then I'm always having to worry whether or not he's actually going to change lanes. I agree it is sometimes risky since they CAN switch lanes at times, but then again, it would mean they are changing lanes without signaling, which again, is wrong and something that I hate the most.

In terms of not pressing on the gas the moment the green light goes off, would that be called a cautious driver? I mean, it makes sense since so many people run red lights--it's always better to wait a second after the lights change to start moving. So is it my fault for being angry when people honk literally a millisecond after the lights changed? I just think they are too impatient.

I have to agree with that, one of the things I hate most is when someone doesn't use their signal to change lanes, I don't know if they are just slightly drifting towards my lane or actually changing lanes into me, really pisses me off. Everyone that reads this PLEASE signal for your lane changes when near traffic, it makes things so much safer to let people know what you are doing. I for one have had one incident a while back to where I had someone in my blind spot and I didn't see them, I went to signal and change lanes when they laid on the horn, had I not signaled I might have hit them. Since then I have adjusted my mirrors to see blind spots better... that's besides the point but you get the idea.

[John 070]

I would say it's someone who commits an offense (as defined by the law and common sense), but relies solely on other parties to yield to their offense in order to avoid an accident. I have seen this behavior on the Major Deegan approaching the GW Bridge southbound. Say traffic is moving at 50 mph, and you see a 350Z and a M3 weaving through traffic at about 80 mph, cutting people off and totally relying on others to brake. That's aggressive. All it takes is one driver texting, talking on the cell, shaving, doing makeup, reading a book, etc., and there is a fatality. Look at the Taconic this weekend.

[MenTul]

Not necessarily "aggressive" but seen daily in every aspect of life

ignorance
an overdeveloped sense of entitlement
well exercised self righteous indignation
atrophied peripheral vision
self centered myopia

[Fresh330]

This guy defines it: