From speeding and tailgating to cutting off other vehicles, aggressive driving and road rage have become a near universal experience — and they appear to be contagious.
A staggering 96% of drivers in a new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study admitted to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors over the past year.
The study included a nationwide survey of over 3,000 drivers and several focus groups.
Key findings included:
- Red light running and passing on the right top the list of aggressive driving behaviors. The five most prevalent aggressive behaviors were:
- Speeding up when a traffic light is changing from yellow to red; 82% admitted to engaging in the behavior.
- Using the right (slow) lane to pass another vehicle (68%).
- Honking the horn when another driver does something inappropriate, rather than to avoid a crash (66%).
- Glaring at another driver in response to something they did on the road (65%).
- Driving 15 mph faster than the normal flow of traffic (58%).
- Road rage occurs at alarming rates. 11% of respondents acknowledged taking violent actions, such as intentionally bumping another car or confronting another driver; 20% of respondents said that they personally know someone who has been threatened by a weapon in a road rage incident.
- Aggressive driving is contagious. Drivers who witness higher levels of aggressive driving are more likely to drive aggressively themselves.
- Drivers of certain vehicles are perceived to be more aggressive. Drivers of sports cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles are often seen as more aggressive. Some drivers said that they feel more powerful and dominant behind the wheel of these vehicles, and people who see their vehicles as an extension of their personality were more likely to report high levels of aggressive driving.
AAA research showed that while some aggressive driving behaviors have become more common, others have declined since 2016:
- Cutting off another vehicle on purpose increased from 12% to 20%.
- Honking to show annoyance or anger increased from 45% to 66%.
- Making an angry gesture increased from 33% to 37%.
- Tailgating another vehicle decreased from 51% to 39%.
- Yelling at another driver decreased from 47% to 39%.
“The cycle of aggressive driving and road rage is fueling a culture where impatience and hostility are becoming the norm behind the wheel,” said Lauren Fabrizi, spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “To help curb aggressive driving, drivers should prioritize courtesy and safety. Simple actions like using turn signals, letting others merge and offering a friendly wave can help de-escalate tension and create a safer ride for everyone.”
AAA offers the following advice to avoid aggressive driving and road rage:
- Choose time over tension. Leaving plenty of time to get to your destination can reduce the temptation to speed or frustration you may feel if you’re stuck in traffic.
- Breathe before you react. One deep breath can reset your drive. If you’re already upset before heading out, don’t drive until you’ve calmed down.
- Don’t take the bait. Ignore aggressive drivers. Should you encounter an angry or aggressive driver:
- Stay calm and don’t engage. Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures and avoid using your horn. Never exit the vehicle to argue with or engage another driver.
- Give space. Let the driver pass and keep your distance.
- Protect yourself. If you feel threatened, do not drive home. Call 911 and drive to a public place.
AA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and New York, providing nearly 6.8 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.