Is road rage increasing?
Michelle_Michy
ROADRAGESTATISTICS202021.docxRoad Rage Statistics
By Taylor Covington August 18, 2020
· 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving (NHTSA)
· 37% of aggressive driving incidents involve a firearm (AutoVantage Club).
· A total of 12,610 injuries and 218 murders have been attributed to road rage over a seven-year period in the United States (SafeMotorist).
· Males under the age of 19 are the most likely to exhibit road rage (NHTSA).
· It’s proven that 94% of traffic accidents are caused by driver error (NPR).
· Aggressive driving played a role in 56% of fatal accidents between 2003 and 2007 (III).
What causes road rage?
Everyone's been frustrated while driving — at least once. Whether it's due to traffic or the poor decisions of other drivers, that flash of anger can easily ruin our day. But for some, that anger lasts much longer than an instant and can lead to some disastrous consequences. Each year thousands die in preventable motor vehicle accidents and road rage is one of the more deadly behaviors behind the wheel.
But what exactly is road rage? What are some precautions you can take to avoid to getting so angry while driving? We'll explore the states, genders, and ages most susceptible to road rage by unearthing data from notable sources like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Automobile Association, including priopitary data from more recent years.
Table of contents
3. Aggressive driving vs. road rage
4. What does road rage look like in the US?
5. Road rage statistics by state
6. Road rage statistics by gender
7. Road rage statistics by age
9. Comparing road rage to drunk or distracted driving
10. Dangers of road rage on car insurance premiums
11. Road rage FAQs
Road rage statistics in 2020
In May 2020, The Zebra, the nation's leading insurance comparison site, conducted a national survey on 1,500 Americans to better understand this "road rage" phenomenon.
Major takeways include:
· 19.3% of respondents reported feeling anger and intense aggression while driving in the past year, while 5.5% said they experienced those same feelings weekly. 2.8% reported those same feelings every time they drive.
· The most common act of road rage witnessed by American drivers was another driver honking their car horns in anger (48.3%). However, 41.1% (almost half of the respondents) witnessed drivers giving rude hand gestures to the person of their aggression. 35.8% saw other drivers yell at another driver, while 6.2% actually witnessed drivers get out of their car and fight in a physical altercation.
· Distracted driving, tailgating, and being cut off in traffic are the most enraging behaviors, according to the survey (respondents reporting 27.7%, 21.4%, and 15.6% respectively).
This new data also indicates a concerning lack of action taken by most Americans, despite knowing the dangers of road rage.
· 40.8% of drivers reported believing road rage was just as dangerous as distracted driving.
· 41.4% of drivers reported believing road rage was just as dangerous as drunk driving.
· 44.4% of people also admitted failing to report road rage to the police when they saw it.
Perhaps this discrepancy comes down to varying beliefs regarding how road rage is defined.
· 17.4% claim road rage is only feelings caused by another driver's behavior, while 10.1% define road rage as physical responses due to another driver. 2.1% see road rage as physical responses due to traffic/blockage. 1.8% responded that road rage was caused by traffic or construction.
· Of the above options, 46.7% saw road rage as all of the above, but 21.1% didn't see road rage as any of the listed options.
If you find yourself frustrated behind the wheel, our research shows these as the top ways to relax after a road rage incident.
· Listen to music or a podcast: 30.5% (still regarded the top favorite choice, in accordance to last year's road rage survey)
· Think of something more peaceful: 19.2%
· Letting off steam by yelling in the car: 9.5%
