You are late for work. On a four-lane highway, traffic in both lanes moves steadily at the 55 mph limit. Which plan best avoids aggressive driving and lowers your risk of a crash?

Correct answer: Stay in one lane at the speed of traffic with at least four seconds of space ahead.

Why

Weaving between lanes, tailgating and sudden hard braking are aggressive habits that often cause crashes. When you are late, these habits save little time and put you and other people at risk. The handbook tells you to keep the same speed as the traffic around you and to use the four-second following distance rule. It is safer to leave earlier next time than to try to make up time on the road.

Verified against Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook · Adjust to traffic (aggressive driving habits) · p. 14, 16, 17