BOISE – It’s the beginning of March Madness for college basketball teams across the country, and AAA is reminding drivers that aggressive behavior may lead to victory on the court, but it often results in tragedy behind the wheel.
According to the Idaho Transportation Department, there were nearly 14,000 aggressive driving crashes in the Gem State in 2023. In fact, aggressive driving (including speeding, failure to obey stop signs or yield the right of way and following too closely) was a contributing factor in half of all Idaho crashes that year. 103 people were killed in aggressive driving crashes on Idaho roads, a 27% increase from the previous year.
“We all have somewhere to be, and none of us are thrilled about driving in traffic. But that never justifies taking risks that could get people hurt,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “Darting in and out of lanes, tailgating, and speeding make the roads a much more dangerous place for everyone, including other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.”
In AAA’s most recent Traffic Safety Culture Index, about a third of survey respondents admitted to behavior that placed them in the “Speeding Drivers” category. 89% of drivers view aggressive driving (including speeding, sudden lane changes, and tailgating) as dangerous, 81% perceive running red lights as dangerous, and nearly 95% believe friends and loved ones would not approve of tailgating and sudden lane changes. Yet 49% admitted to driving 15 MPH over the speed limit on a freeway at least once in the previous 30 days, and 27% admitted to running at least one red light where they could have stopped.
As the weather improves, AAA urges drivers to maintain appropriate speeds, be courteous, and leave room for a ‘safety cushion’ between their vehicle and other road users.