From 1993 to 1995, Duval County saw a nearly 25 percent increase in the number of accidents for failing to yield right of way, resulting in a 31 percent increase in the number of fatalities due to failing to yield, according to statistics from the Florida Highway Patrol. The trend is not unique to this area. Nationwide, deaths and injury due to violent and aggressive driving behavior jumped significantly in recent years. From 1990 to 1995, there was a 51 percent jump across the country in the number accidents due to violent highway behavior, according to a 1996 study by the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety. A rash of traffic altercation shootings focused national attention on Los Angeles a few years back, around the same time an aggressive Jacksonville driver shot and killed another motorist.
Drivers often take out their frustrations on other drivers, psychologists say.
Highway safety officials advise motorists who might be the object of another driver's wrath to avoid eye contact or to pull off the road to notify the police. More aggressive patrolling of the nation's highways by law enforcement officials can help the situation, but what might ultimately be needed to encourage drivers to have patience and better manners is stiffer fines for aggressive driving behaviors. The situation requires all drivers to take extra care and a deep breath before they get behind the wheel - especially this holiday weekend. Enter words describing a concept or keywords.