An online survey of drivers found that nearly two in three believe aggressive driving is a bigger problem today than it was three years ago; nine out of ten think it poses a serious threat to personal safety; and almost 80 percent said they personally engaged in some kind of significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in a previous year.
Those are among the findings of a new study released earlier this month by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a nonprofit research and education organization.
“The most alarming findings,” the report found, suggest that a significant number –an estimated eight million U.S. drivers — admitted to engaging in extreme examples of road rage, including purposefully ramming another vehicle or getting out of the car to confront another driver.
“Inconsiderate driving, bad traffic and the daily stresses of life can transform minor frustrations into dangerous road rage,” Jurek Grabowski, director of research for the AAA Foundation, said in a statement. “Far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly.”
Previous research by the group found that more than half of fatal crashes involved at least one driver who performed a potentially aggressive action.
Here are key findings of the report and estimates of their prevalence:
Purposefully tailgating another vehicle: 51 percent (104 million drivers)
• Yelling at another driver: 47 percent (95 million drivers)
• Honking to show annoyance or anger: 45 percent (91 million drivers)
• Making angry gestures at another driver: 33 percent (67 million drivers)
• Purposely tried to block another vehicle from changing lanes: 24 percent (49 million drivers)
• Cutting off another vehicle on purpose: 12 percent (24 million drivers)
• Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver: 4 percent (7.6 million drivers)
• Bumping or ramming another vehicle on purpose: 3 percent (5.7 million drivers)
• Male and younger drivers ages 19-39 were significantly more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors; male drivers were more than three times as likely as female drivers to have gotten out of a vehicle to confront another driver or rammed another vehicle on purpose.
• Drivers living in the Northeast were significantly more likely to yell, honk or gesture angrily than people living in other parts of the country and nearly 30 percent more likely to have made an angry gesture.
• Drivers who reported other unsafe behaviors behind the wheel, like speeding and running red lights, also were more likely to show aggression. (Those who reported speeding on a freeway in the past month were four times more likely to have cut off another vehicle on purpose.)
The report suggested the following tips to prevent road rage:
• Don’t Offend: Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes, or turn the steering wheel in response to something you have done.
• Be Tolerant and Forgiving: The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Assume that it’s not personal.
• Do Not Respond: Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle and contact 9-1-1 if needed.
“It’s completely normal for drivers to experience anger behind the wheel, but we must not let our emotions lead to destructive choices,” Jake Nelson, the AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research, said in a statement. “Don’t risk escalating a frustrating situation because you never know what the other driver might do. Maintain a cool head, and focus on reaching your destination safely.”
