Report Dangerous Drivers

Yesterday I blogged about the differences between aggressive driving and what has become known in the popular media as “Road Rage” and how they manifest themselves in our daily lives as we travel the highways and byways of Tennessee. Throughout the country, the public’s concern over aggressive driving continues to grow. When the driving public hears about a road rage incident like one recently reported out of Bradley County, Tennessee, it’s hard not to be somewhat fearful. A North Carolina man and his wife are charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder after he fired his pistol at another car as they drove along the Interstate highway.

Some studies indicate the public is actually more fearful of aggressive drivers than it is of impaired drivers. Aggressive driving is truly dangerous and cannot be tolerated. Several states are considering legislation to deal specifically with the aggressive driving issue. In Tennessee aggressive driving is addressed in the Statutes as Reckless Driving. TN Code section 55-10-205) 55-10-205, describes reckless driving as; “Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property commits reckless driving.”

In addition to legislation, states, including Tennessee, are addressing aggressive driving in other ways, including:

*Increased enforcement, through programs which coordinate local and state agencies.

*Local citizens’ initiatives and coalitions that implement public information/education campaigns to improve driver courtesy.

*Technological advances, such as photo radar.

*State public information and education programs that focus on the dangers of aggressive driving, provide tips for safe driving, publicize upcoming enforcement programs or advertise tip lines for reporting aggressive driving behavior.

The public also plays a role in making roadways safer. A an experienced Tennessee automobile accident lawyer I strongly urge the public to report aggressive driving incidents to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. In Tennessee, motorists can easily report aggressive drivers, impaired drivers, or other unsafe highway incidents over their cellular telephone by dialing *847. If this is the case in your community, remind motorists that they should use their cellular phone safely and let a passenger make the call, use hands-free operation, or pull off the road when making the call. They should not be distracted from the task of driving.

If you are the victim of a Nashville or Tennessee automobile accident we urge you to contact our Tennessee car accident attorneys today for a free consultation. When you hire an auto accident attorney from Phillip Miller & Associates, you’re getting a qualified and dedicated lawyer. Details about our attorneys and staff can be found by viewing our website at www.seriousinjury.com where you can get to know the men and women who will be looking out for your best interest.