Unsafe driving behavior, done deliberately with ill intention or disregard for safety, is considered aggressive.
Disregarding speed limits, especially in heavy traffic
Following too close to the car in front
Cutting off a driver and then slowing down
Running red lights
Weaving in and out of traffic
Changing lanes without signalling
Blocking cars attempting to change lanes
Using headlights or brakes to “punish” other drivers
Because definitions of road rage vary—and because this set of behaviors isn’t typically tracked by law enforcement—it’s hard to gauge precisely how common road rage will be in 2024.
AAA research in 2019 revealed that 8 in 10 American drivers had engaged in aggressive driving behaviors like running red lights or flipping off another driver. Still, these habits don’t always escalate to road rage.
A survey by AAA reported that 13 per cent of drivers regularly go 15 mph over the freeway speed limit
Road rage deaths related to gun violence increased by more than 89 per cent in 2020-2024
Gun violence on roads
The Trace’s study on road rage with a firearm shows that Texas, Florida and California lead road rage incidents involving guns. New Mexico, Tennessee and Wisconsin see the highest rate of armed road rage incidents per 1 million residents.
Road rage shootings increased by 449 per cent between 2014 and 2023.
Four hundred eighty-one people were shot in 2023 due to road rage, down from 543 in 2022.
A total of 3,095 people were shot in road rage incidents in the U.S. from 2014 to 2023.
Seven hundred seventy-seven people shot in road rage incidents from 2023 to 2024 were killed.
Houston, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Chicago and Memphis saw the most road rage shootings in the past decade.
Sergeant Chris Palaganas, a 16-year veteran law enforcement officer, offers this expert advice for surviving road rage:
Don’t get out of your car: You never know the other person’s state of mind and have no idea if they are armed and violent. Instead, stay in your car, assess the situation and call authorities if necessary.
Move to a safe location: If you’re in danger, drive to a well-lit, well-populated area, like a police or fire station.
Be a good witness: Have a reliable dash cam rolling, capture high-quality footage, and provide clear verbal commentary to document everything.
De-escalate the situation: If an aggressor approaches, point to the dash cam and make it clear – calmly, without adding fuel to their fire – that they are being recorded.
Remember what’s important: Take a breath and ask yourself your priorities. Your first priority should be getting to your destination alive.
Road rage can be a reflection of broader social unrest. Because many people must drive, roadways become an arena where your priorities are to fight for power and control. - Dean DeSoto, executive director of the San Antonio-based Community Alliance for Traffic Safety
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Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning writer & journalist based on the West Coast. He writes about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, lifestyle, equestrian and rodeo, and millionaire travel.
You’re welcome to share your thoughts or tell me your story. Please email me here. dp1@sawyertms.com
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