Final answer:
A MA driver's license will be suspended for sixty days if they accumulate seven or more surchargeable violations within three years. Traffic violations, even for seemingly minor infractions, can lead to serious consequences like license suspension. Examples include incorrect lane changes and aggressive behaviors on the road.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a MA driver accumulates seven or more surchargeable violations within a three-year period, his or her license will automatically be suspended for a period of sixty days. Traffic violations can range from minor infractions such as incorrect lane changes to more serious offenses. Accumulating a certain number of these surchargeable violations can lead to consequences such as license suspension, as seen in the case of Massachusetts drivers.
As described in real-world experiments, such as the one conducted by Heussenstamm in 1971, traffic violations can quickly add up. In this experiment, drivers accumulated a significant number of traffic citations over a short period, demonstrating how easy it is to reach thresholds set by state regulations. The study also reflects on human behavior and the stress associated with accumulating fines, which may further compound unsafe driving practices.
Additionally, the story of Peter, a twenty-three-year-old driver, serves as a reminder that aggressive behaviors like tailgating and honking at other drivers due to frustration can lead to traffic citations as well. These actions, while perhaps common in reaction to slower drivers—in this case, an elderly person labeled as 'DWE', or 'driving while elderly'—can still be classified as surchargeable violations, affecting one's driving record.