Aggressive Driving Awareness Month: How To Drive Safely in February

Every February, various organizations and local governments observe Aggressive Driving Awareness Month to encourage drivers to make wise choices behind the wheel in order to keep themselves and others safe. By refraining from aggressive driving, you can lower your chances of getting into a car wreck and avoid accident-related car insurance rate hikes.

Keep reading to learn more about aggressive driving awareness and what steps you should take if others around you are driving recklessly.

On This Page

• 

  What Is Aggressive Driving Awareness Month?

• 

  What Is Aggressive Driving?

• 

  Aggressive Driving Awareness Month History

• 

  How To Celebrate Aggressive Driving Awareness Month

• 

  Tips To Practice Safer Driving

• 

  FAQs

What Is Aggressive Driving Awareness Month?

Aggressive Driving Awareness Month is an informal promotional campaign used to highlight the dangers and potential negative consequences of aggressive driving habits. Raising awareness of the risks of aggressive driving is important given its prevalence. According to a 2025 study, nearly all drivers engage in road rage or aggressive driving behaviors at some point during the year — with men and young drivers being especially likely to do so regularly.^[1]

When Is Aggressive Driving Awareness Month?

Aggressive Driving Awareness Month is generally observed in February each year. That said, some groups or municipalities may choose to recognize it at different times during the year. For example, in 2008, Mayor Will Wynn designated August as Road Rage and Aggressive Driving Awareness Month in Austin, Texas.^[2]

What Is Aggressive Driving?

In general, aggressive driving refers to any driving behavior that is likely to endanger people or result in property damage. Common examples of aggressive driving include the following:^[3][4]

What Should I Do if I’m Involved With an Aggressive Driver?

People who value good manners are less likely to get involved in aggressive driving incidents, so maintaining proper road etiquette is the best way to respond to an aggressive driver.^[1] This may require moving out of the aggressive driver’s way and refraining from challenging them, responding to their gestures or making eye contact with them. Once you’re in a safe location, you should report the aggressive driver to your local police department.^[5]

It’s also important to stay calm if you get into an accident with an aggressive driver so you can safely record the details of the crash and exchange insurance and contact information as needed.

Aggressive Driving Awareness Month History

Although the origins of Aggressive Driving Awareness Month are unclear, various organizations and governmental entities have recognized the celebration over the years — sometimes in collaboration with each other. For example, in 2017, police officers in Dayton, Ohio, partnered with AAA to hand out flashlight key chains and educational materials about the importance of being responsible behind the wheel to drivers at intersections with high car accident rates.^[4]

How To Celebrate Aggressive Driving Awareness Month

The best ways to honor Aggressive Driving Awareness Month are to practice safer driving habits and encourage your loved ones to do the same. To help you drive more safely, it’s important to recognize the situations that commonly lead to aggressive driving and react with a level head whenever you find yourself in those situations. Common reasons for aggressive driving include the following:^[1]

• Wanting to get to your destination more quickly
• Feeling like your safety is in jeopardy due to other drivers’ reckless behaviors
• Attempting to take control of a chaotic driving environment
• Showing others how they ought to behave on the road
• Retaliating against others for their bad driving behaviors, such as cutting you off in traffic

Tips To Practice Safer Driving

Following safe driving tips like these may help you avoid costly car accidents — even when others on the road are driving recklessly or erratically:^[6]

1. Pay attention to your surroundings, and be prepared to react to sudden changes.
2. Drive especially carefully amid bad weather.
3. Be courteous in your interactions with other drivers.
4. Wear your seat belt.
5. Avoid phone use or other driver distractions.
6. Always stop for red lights and stop signs.
7. Only pass other cars when it is legal and safe to do so.
8. Do not drive while intoxicated or drowsy.
9. Slow down or pull over when an emergency vehicle — like a police car or ambulance — needs to pass you.