AASHTO Journal - AAA Study Delves into Road Rage Causes, Solutions

A new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that 96 percent of motorists polled by the organization admit to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors over the past year; behaviors typically referred to as “road rage.”

[Above photo by SCDOT]

The study determined that specific “road rage” behaviors are increasing while others are decreasing. For example, since 2016, cutting off other vehicles is up 67 percent while honking the vehicle horn out of anger is up 47 percent. Meanwhile, tailgating is down 24 percent and yelling at other drivers is down 17 percent.

The study also found that the more motorists are exposed to aggressive behavior on the road, the more likely they are to drive aggressively themselves.

This self-fulfilling cycle of aggressive driving and road rage is fueling a culture where impatience and hostility are becoming the norm behind the wheel, noted Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

“Driving can be a stressful experience due to behaviors of others on the road and how you respond to various situations. Our study finds that experiencing various forms of aggressive driving behaviors is common for almost all motorists and many drive aggressively,” he said in a statement. “This [study] also concludes that road etiquette and manners can be a protective factor against aggressive driving.”

In fact, AAA’s study found that encouraging good road etiquette may be the most effective way to reduce aggressive driving and road rage.

Simple actions – such as using turn signals, letting others merge, and offering a friendly wave – can help de-escalate tension and create a safer, more respectful driving environment for everyone, said Dr. Jose Torres, AAA traffic safety advocacy and research manager.

“Having good manners behind the wheel isn’t just about being polite,” he added. “It’s about ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone on the road.”