Persuasive Speech: Aggressive Driving Should be Avoided

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience that aggressive driving should be avoided.

Introduction

I.Attention Getter: Speeding, tailgating, giving the finger and outright violence. Each day Americans grow more and more likely to take out their personal frustrations on other drivers. It is called aggressive driving and it is on the incline.

II. Definition: Driving is a curious combination of public and private acts. A car isolates a driver from the world even as it carries him through it. The sensation of personal power is intoxicating. Aggressive driving includes such things as illegal or improper lane changes or turns, failing to stop or yield right of way, excessive speeds, and an assortment of gestures, looks and verbally abusive language.

III. Connection: Everday we have to deal with these people on our roads. We run a great risk just driving around the corner to go to the store or a quiet trip to church. According to U.S. News and World Report, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that two-thirds of fatalities are at least partially caused by aggressive driving. Fortunately, there is something we can do about it.

Body

Preview: To overcome aggressive driving we must first understand it. I would like to share with you the problem, the dangers and the solutions for this growing trend.

I. The Problem: The major cause of aggressive driving is the discourteous or inattentive driver.

A. The number one cause is probably the “left-lane hog”, according to a story in the Amarillo Daily News.

1. Other discourteous driving behaviors include failure to signal before a lane change, changing lanes too closely to other drivers and tailgating.

B. It is these seemingly unaware drivers that infuriate the aggressive driver and trigger the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde transformation.

1. Reduced enforcement, highway traffic, congestion or personal issues also play a large role in the disposition of the aggressive driver.

C. The angry driver then may demonstrate his displeasure by speeding around the other vehicle, cutting the other driver off or with a number of verbal and nonverbal messages.

Signpost: Though the driver may feel justified in his or her action, this kind of display is most times very dangerous and often will result in damage to either the vehicles, the drivers and nonverbal messages.

I. The Dangers: As mentioned before, two-thirds of the 42,000 highway deaths last year were related to aggressive driving.