According to a recent AAA report, 78 percent of U.S. drivers self-report having road rage. That’s nearly 8 in every 10 drivers who reported engaging in an aggressive driving behavior within the last year.

AAA conducted the study, which involved 2,705 drivers, in 2014. While few reported regularly engaging in the various behaviors AAA asked about, a significant portion of the respondents admitted to engaging in one or more of the behaviors at least once within the past year.

Self-Reported Aggressive Driving Behaviors

The survey found that more than half of respondents admitted to tailgating another vehicle in the last year, and over 40 percent admitted to yelling at another driver or honking to show annoyance or anger.

Below is a breakdown of the behaviors that the survey respondents admitted to engaging in at least once over the previous year:

• 8 percent self-report that they have tailgated another vehicle.
• 6 percent self-reported that they have yelled at another driver.
• 5 percent self-reported that they have honked their horn to express their anger towards another driver.
• 5 percent self-reported that they have made an angry gesture towards another driver.
• 1 percent self-reported that they have attempted to block another vehicle from chancing lanes.
• 9 percent self-reported that they have purposefully cut off another vehicle.
• 7 percent self-reported that they have actually exited their motor vehicle for purposes of confronting the other driver.
• 8 percent self-reported that they have purposefully rammed their vehicle into another vehicle. 

Do you also have road rage?

Upon reading up to this point, you may be wondering if you have ever committed road rage. If your answer is “yes” to the following questions, then you may have road rage:

• Do you speed regularly? Do you weave in and out of traffic?
• Do you tailgate slower vehicles? Do you flash your headlights at them?
• Do you make rude gestures at other drivers?
• Do you frequently give other drivers dirty looks or seek eye contact with them?
• Do you blow your horn at slower vehicles or other drivers you think have wronged you?
• Do you chase or follow other drivers?

Were you in an accident? Call Bressman Law!

Road rage accidents can happen at any time and any place. Recently, in Pasco County, Florida, a road raged driver in a car ran over a motorcycle in the middle of traffic, according to media reports. The motorcycle driver and passenger sustained only minor injuries. The road raged driver was arrested soon after the incident.

If you or a loved one were involved in an auto accident that another driver caused – whether intentionally or unintentionally – talk to Coffey McPharlin about filing a claim against that driver.

Call us at 954-541-3194 to learn more about how we can put our 20-plus years of combined legal experience to work for your claim.