Sharing the road, whether on the crowded streets of Burnaby or the quieter roads around Aldergrove, requires vigilance and patience. While most drivers are focused and courteous, nearly everyone will eventually encounter a dangerous driver. These drivers fall into two main categories: those who are erratic due to distraction or impairment, and those who are actively aggressive or hostile.
Encountering dangerous driving can be startling but your response should be calm, practical, and focused on safety. This guide outlines how to recognize the warning signs of a dangerous driver, how to protect yourself against them, and the steps you can take to safely report a dangerous driver in British Columbia.
Spotting the Signs of Impaired or Erratic Driving
A dangerous driver isn't always someone screaming or gesturing aggressively; sometimes, the danger comes from a complete lack of focus or safety. Many of the behaviours that indicate impairment or severe distraction stem from the driver failing the fundamental skills and critical "see-think-do" cycle required for safe driving. This lack of concentration can be due to intoxication, fatigue, or simply the need to refresh one's driving fundamentals as skills diminish over time.
Recognizing these signs early allows you to increase your space margins and prepare for unpredictable action.
Inconsistent Speeds and Direction
The most common indicator of an erratic driver is their inability to maintain a straight line or steady speed. Look for vehicles that are:
- weaving or drifting across lane lines, including crossing the centre line or the shoulder line.
- "braking hard" for no clear reason, or applying the accelerator suddenly and aggressively.
- driving significantly slower or faster than the surrounding traffic flow (e.g., cruising at 75 kilometers per hour in a 100 kilometer per hour zone, or vice versa).
If you observe any of these behaviours, increase your following distance and adjust your road position to exit the area of danger around the erratic driver.
Delayed Reactions and Fatigue
When a driver is fatigued, impaired, or distracted by a phone or other device, their response time lengthens significantly. We can see these longer response times when drivers:
- stop late at traffic lights or stop signs, or start slowly when the light turns green.
- fail to signal intentions, or signal at the wrong time (e.g., activating the turn signal after they've started turning).
- ignore right-of-way rules at intersections.
When witnessing these delayed or absent responses, treat the vehicle as unpredictable and take steps to put more space between yourself and the other driver.
Unnecessary Risk-Taking
While aggression is sometimes a factor here, this category refers to actions that simply make no sense for the current driving conditions, often indicating poor judgment. This might include taking sharp turns at high speed, aggressively cutting off other drivers, or running amber or red lights when there was adequate time to stop safely. These reckless actions create extreme hazards. When a large commercial vehicle is involved, the risks are severely amplified for everyone due to the vehicle’s size and increased stopping distance - a fact that professional truck drivers understand well.
If you observe extreme risks being taken, slow down, increase your following distance, and use an alternate route or safely pull over to allow the driver to leave the area.
Immediate Safety Strategies: Creating Distance
When you identify a dangerous driver nearby, your primary response should be creating a safety buffer - both physically and emotionally. The key is to manage the situation without escalating it.
Prioritize Space Margins
Your first response should be to increase the distance between your vehicle and the dangerous driver. Under normal, ideal conditions, we recommend a minimum two-second following distance but when dealing with an erratic or aggressive driver, you should increase this to four seconds or more. This gives you ample braking distance and response time if they suddenly stop or change direction.
If you are following a dangerous driver on a freeway like the Trans-Canada Highway near Surrey or Chilliwack, and they are exhibiting signs of distraction, use the opportunity to switch lanes or slow down to put several car lengths of space between you and the other driver.
Let Them Pass and Get Away
If the dangerous driver is behind you and is tailgating or attempting to intimidate you, safely move your vehicle to the right-hand lane as soon as possible and allow them to pass. Do not speed up to keep them behind you, and do not make any sudden moves that could provoke them. The fastest way to diffuse a situation is to remove yourself from it.
Smooth and Predictable Driving
As you navigate away from the dangerous driver, commit to driving as predictably as possible. This means:
- using turn signals well in advance of any lane change or turn.
- slowing down gradually, not abruptly.
- maintaining a constant speed when conditions permit.
Predictable driving reduces the chance of miscommunication, which is often a spark for further aggression.
Handling a Direct Threat
In rare but frightening cases, an aggressive driver may try to follow you, block your vehicle, or confront you when stopped at a light or intersection.
If you are threatened, remain inside your vehicle and lock the doors, and avoid eye contact with the offender, as this can be misinterpreted as a challenge. If they follow you, do not drive home and, instead, drive to the nearest police detachment or a very busy, well-lit public space, such as a busy gas station or supermarket. Once you arrive at a safe location, report the incident to authorities.
Safe Reporting: Your Evidence Collection Checklist
If the danger has passed and you are in a safe location, compiling a report is the next step. To ensure authorities can act, you need concrete evidence.
Pull Over Before Recording (The Law)
In British Columbia, using a hand-held electronic device for any reason while driving is prohibited. Your safety and legal standing are paramount. If you need to use your phone to record a licence plate or take notes, you should pull over to a safe, legally designated stopping place, such as a rest area or a parking lot, before doing so.
Proactive Proof: The Dashcam Advantage
Many drivers in the Lower Mainland use dashcams, which provide verifiable evidence without having to use a hand-held electronic device for recording. A dashcam automatically captures the events, including the vehicle's speed, time, and location, which provides an easily obtained recording of the licence plate and the dangerous behaviour without requiring you to handle a device. This proof is highly valuable for police.
Essential Details to Record
When you are safe and ready to document the event, try to capture the following details in your notes.
Time and Location: Record the exact time and date. Include the street address, intersection, or specific highway marker, such as the kilometer post on Highway 7 near Pitt Meadows.
Vehicle Description: Capture the make, model, and colour of the vehicle. This is helpful, but the most crucial piece of information is the licence plate number.
Driver Description: Note general details (e.g., approximate age, gender, clothing).
Specific Behaviour: Write down exactly what the driver did (e.g., "Swerved into oncoming traffic to pass a queue of five cars" or "Tailgated at 2 metres for 3 kilometers and then made an obscene gesture").
The Reporting Process in British Columbia
Knowing how to report a dangerous driver is key to making our roads safer for everyone. The method you use depends on the severity of the situation.
When to Call 911
Call 911 if the situation involves imminent danger to life or property. This includes:
- witnessing what you believe to be impaired driving (often referred to as drunk driving).
- situations involving explicit violence, serious threats, or the use of a weapon.
- when a dangerous action has just resulted in a collision.
Provide the operator with the direction of travel, location, and the vehicle description, and be ready to follow their instructions.
Non-Emergency Reporting and Driver Review
For dangerous behaviour that is no longer a threat but should still be reported (such as an aggressive tailgating incident that occurred 15 minutes ago), use the non-emergency line for the local RCMP or municipal police department.
When a police file is opened following a report, the details, especially those involving aggressive behaviour or impairment, can be forwarded to Road Safety BC. This provincial body is responsible for driver fitness and may initiate a formal review of the driver’s eligibility to hold a licence. This ensures that your diligent reporting can have long-term consequences for drivers who habitually endanger others.
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Encountering a dangerous driver can raise your stress level, but by staying calm and following a plan, you can protect yourself and contribute to greater road safety. Every time you safely report a dangerous driver, BC authorities can take action, and you are making the roads safer for yourself, your family, and your community.
For more information on safe driving, read our other blogs Handling Road Rage and What To Do When You Witness An Accident.