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What counts as aggressive driving in Maryland?

Richard S. Lundin
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Personal injury and family law attorney licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia

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8/11/2011
Rick Lundin
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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines aggressive as "tending toward or exhibiting aggression; marked by combative readiness."

The definition for aggression itself uses words such as "forceful, hostile, unprovoked" and "destructive."
Those are some strong words to describe a person's driving. Given the underlying attitude of hostility associated with aggression, it might be hard to determine whether a person is actually driving aggressively or simply acting carelessly.

For example, you may notice a person speeding or frequently switching lanes, but unless you can see their face or notice them targeting a particular driver, you probably don't know whether they are purposefully driving in an unsafe manner or if they are simply inconsiderate.

Aggressive driving might seem like a rather ambiguous charge to the average driver, but state authorities have done their part to make it easy to assess whether a person is driving aggressively or not.

According to Maryland state law, a person can be charged with aggressive driving if they are seen doing at least three of the following:
  • Speeding
  • Disregarding a stop sign or stop light
  • Passing another vehicle unsafely
  • Passing on the right
  • Driving improperly in the lanes
  • Tailgating
  • Failing to yield right of way


Maryland is one of only a handful of states to have a law dictating what qualifies as aggressive driving. If you or a family member have been hurt in a Rockville car accident where aggressive driving was involved, you may want to talk to an experienced Rockville personal injury lawyer who can help you build a case.



Category: Auto Accidents


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