Driver’s Manual | 45 To keep a smooth traffic flow, some highways  also have minimum speed limits. If you drive slow- er than the minimum speed you can interfere with  the traffic flow and create a dangerous condition.  Even if there is no minimum speed limit, those  driving too slow can be as dangerous as those  who drive too fast. Know that some cities have speed limits less  than 55 mph (88 km/h) that are not always posted.  For example, the speed limit is 25 mph (48 km/h)  in New York City unless another limit is posted. Research indicates that being in a state of rage  can affect your blood pressure and your ability to  reason and make decisions. As a driver, you will  make more errors. The chance of being involved  in a traffic crash will increase. Aggressive driving and road rage can lead to  revoked or suspended driver licenses, problems  between family members and friends, loss of  employment and legal problems. Four of every 10 crashes involve rear-end colli- sions, normally because a person is following too  closely (tailgating). Leave enough room between  your vehicle and the one ahead so you can stop  safely if the other vehicle stops suddenly. Brake  early and gently when you prepare to stop or turn.  It gives drivers behind you plenty of warning that  you plan to decrease your speed. Many drivers do not recognize when their own  aggressive driving or road rage is affecting their  ability to drive safely. State law requires every  DMV-approved accident prevention course to  address the hazards and dangers of road rage.  For information about DMV-approved accident  prevention courses, go to the DMV website at https://dmv.ny.gov/learn-more-about/pirp. You  can also contact one of the program sponsors.  Information is available at any state or county  motor vehicle office. For a good “space cushion,” use the two-sec- ond rule: Select an object near or above the road  ahead like a sign, tree or overpass. As the vehicle  ahead passes it, count slowly, “one thousand one,  one thousand two.” If you reach the same object  before you finish the count, you are following too  closely. In bad weather and when following large  trucks, increase the count to at least three or four  seconds for additional space. If a driver follows you too closely (tailgates),  move to another lane if possible or reduce speed  and pull off the road to let the driver go by. Make  sure to signal when you drive off the road and  when you return to it. Do not press your brakes  suddenly or unnecessarily as this may startle the  motorist behind you and could escalate into road rage. You must obey the speed limit. If no limit is  posted, drive no more than 55 mph (88 km/h).  Often, it is common sense to keep your actual  speed below the posted limit. For example, the  legal limit on a slippery or fogged-in expressway  might be 55 mph (88 km/h), or even 65 mph (100  km/h), but the safe speed to drive would be much  lower. Even if you were to drive at 50 mph (80  km/h) on that hazardous highway, a police officer  could ticket you for a speed “not reasonable” for  In case you must change lanes quickly or pull  over to avoid a hazard, leave some “escape”  room to your left and right. SPEED ALLOW YOURSELF SPACE the conditions. Road rage can include many behaviors, such as:  • Shouts, excessive use of a horn or obscene  gestures and threats. • Driving actions like when you cut off another  vehicle, drive too closely, block another  vehicle so it cannot use a traffic lane, chase  another vehicle or run it off the road, or  deliberately slam into a vehicle. • When you stop a vehicle at the side of the  road, get out to threaten, attack, fight or  injure another motorist or passenger or a  pedestrian, bicyclist or other person.