Nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The findings suggest approximately eight million U.S. drivers engaged in extreme examples of road rage, including purposefully ramming another vehicle or getting out of the car to confront another driver.
Delaware State Police report there were 62,807 aggressive driving related arrests in 2015.
Arrests were up 9.4 percent over 2014.
“Inconsiderate driving, bad traffic and the daily stresses of life can transform minor frustrations into dangerous road rage,” said Jim Lardear of AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Far too many drivers are losing themselves in the heat of the moment and lashing out in ways that could turn deadly.”
According to AAA research, a significant number of U.S. drivers reported aggressive behaviors:
• Purposefully tailgating: 104 million drivers or 51 percent
• Yelling at another driver: 95 million drivers or 47 percent
• Honking to show annoyance or anger: 91 million drivers or 45 percent
• Making angry gestures: 67 million drivers or 33 percent
• Trying to block another vehicle from changing lanes: 49 million drivers or 24 percent
• Cutting off another vehicle on purpose: 24 million drivers or 12 percent
• Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver: 7.6 million drivers or 4 percent
• Bumping or ramming another vehicle on purpose: 5.7 million drivers or 3 percent
Nearly two in three drivers believe that aggressive driving is a bigger problem today than three years ago, and nine out of ten believe aggressive drivers are a serious threat to their personal safety.
