Road rage and aggressive drivers: Here's where this list ranks Florida among US states
Florida ranks 17th in the United States when it comes to confrontational drivers, according to a report released by Forbes Advisor.
Incidents of road rage have been going up across the country. In 2022, 413 people were injured in road rage shootings, a 135% increase from 2018, the report said.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported in 2019 that nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the previous 30 days.
Florida ranks 17th when it comes to road rage
The survey reported the following for Florida:
Rank: 17
Score: 59.52 out of 100
15% of drivers said another driver has exited their vehicle to yell at or fight with them.
19.50% of drivers said they experience road rage very frequently.
Key takeaways from road rage report
Forbes Advisor's report summary:
Arizona tops the list of states with the worst road rage, while Delaware is home to the most polite drivers in the nation.
Five of the top 10 states with the most confrontational drivers are in the South, including West Virginia, Virginia, Oklahoma, Alabama and Texas.
Four of the top 10 states with the most polite drivers are in the Pacific and West, including Idaho, Wyoming, Washington and New Mexico.
Drivers reported experiencing road rage most frequently on city streets (29.18%), on freeways or highways (26.59%) and in parking lots (14.9%).
How common is aggressive driving?
According to estimates by the AAA Foundation’s Annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, millions of drivers engaged in the following angry and aggressive behaviors in the 30 days before a survey, was conducted, including:
Aggressive driving by switching lanes quickly/or very close behind another car: 26 percent (57 million drivers).
Made rude gestures or honked at other drivers: 32 percent (71 million drivers).
Driven 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway: 48 percent (106 million drivers).
Driven through a red light: 31 percent (68 million drivers).
Passed in front of a vehicle at less than a car length: 22 percent (49 million drivers).
Speeded up when another vehicle tried to overtake you: 25 percent (55 million drivers).
Followed vehicle in front of you closely to prevent another vehicle from merging in front of you: 34 percent (75 million drivers).
Merged into traffic even when another driver tries to close the gap between vehicles: 28 percent (62 million drivers).
Arizona ranked No. 1 as state with most confrontational drivers
Scoring 100 out of 100, Arizona was the top state when its comes to road rage.
Arizona was ranked second worst for the percentage of drivers who have been forced off the road (22.5%) and tied with Oklahoma for having the third highest percentage of drivers who have been tailgated (70.5%).
31.5% of Arizona drivers reported another driver has exited their vehicle to yell at or fight with them, the fifth highest in the nation.
Arizona ranks sixth worst for both the percentage of drivers who experience road rage very frequently in their home state (31.5%) and the percentage of drivers who have been yelled at, insulted, cursed at or threatened by another driver (81%).
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Top 10 states with confrontational drivers
Arizona
Rhode Island:
Rhode Island drivers tied with drivers from Alabama and Illinois for being most likely to report that another driver has tried to block their car from changing lanes (63.5%).
Rhode Island drivers were also most likely to report that another driver has yelled at them, insulted them, cursed at them or made threats (96.5%), and tied with drivers from Texas for being most likely to experience honks of frustration (79%).
West Virginia:
West Virginia drivers were most likely in the nation to report that another driver has tailgated their car (77%), made rude or offensive gestures at them (75%) and exited their vehicle to yell at or fight with them (61%).
Mountain State drivers also tied with Texas drivers for being most likely to report that another driver has cut them off on purpose (63%).
94.5% of West Virginia drivers have been on the receiving end of insults, curses and threats from other drivers, the second highest amount in the nation.
Virginia:
Virginia drivers were third most likely to report that another driver has exited their vehicle to yell at or fight with them (50.5%), honked at them in frustration (78.5%) and yelled at them, insulted them, cursed at them or made threats (89.5%).
Drivers in the Old Dominion State tied with Oklahoma drivers for being fourth most likely to report that another driver has cut them off on purpose (59.5%).
Oklahoma:
Sooner State drivers tied with Arizona drivers for being third most likely to report that another driver has tailgated their car (70.5%).
Oklahoma drivers were fourth most likely to report that another driver has forced their car off the road (14%).
Alabama:
Alabama drivers tied with drivers from Rhode Island and Illinois for being most likely in the nation to report that another driver has tried to block their car from changing lanes (63.5%).
87% of Alabama drivers said another driver has yelled at them, insulted them, cursed at them or made threats, the fifth highest amount in the nation.
Connecticut:
Connecticut ranked second worst for the percentage of drivers who have been tailgated (71.5%) and third worst for the percentage of drivers who have been forced off the road (20.5%).
Connecticut also ranked seventh worst for both the percentage of drivers who said another driver has exited their vehicle to yell at or fight with them (25%) and the percentage of drivers who said another driver has honked at them in frustration (70%).
Illinois:
Prairie State drivers were most likely in the nation to report that another driver has forced their car off the road (23.5%).
Illinois drivers also tied with drivers from Alabama and Rhode Island for being most likely to report that another driver has tried to block their car from changing lanes (63.5%).
Texas:
Texas drivers tied with West Virginia drivers for being most likely in the nation to report that another driver has cut them off on purpose (63%).
Drivers in the Lone Star State were second most likely to report that another driver has made rude or offensive gestures at them (73%) and fourth most likely to report that another driver has exited their vehicle to yell at or fight with them (46.5%).
Ohio:
The Buckeye State also ranked seventh worst for the percentage of drivers who said that another driver has cut them off on purpose (51.5%), and eighth worst for the percentage of drivers who have been on the receiving end of rude or offensive gestures while driving (63%).
Top reasons given for road rage
Among the drivers Forbes Advisor surveyed, the top reasons cited for feeling road rage include:
Heavy traffic (39.35%).
Already feeling stressed (38.06%).
Running late (33.89%).
Already feeling angry (32.49%).
Feeling tired (26.86%).
City streets are where drivers experience road rage the most
Drivers reported experiencing road rage most frequently on:
City streets (29.18%)
Freeways or highways (26.59%)
Parking lots (14.9%)
Intersections (12.36%)
Rural roads (6.99%)
What is aggressive driving?
AAA defined aggressive driving as "any unsafe driving behavior, performed deliberately and with ill intention or disregard for safety." Examples include:
Speeding in heavy traffic.
Tailgating.
Cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down.
Running red lights.
Weaving in and out of traffic.
Changing lanes without signaling.
Blocking cars attempting to pass or change lanes.
Using headlights or brakes to “punish” other drivers.
What is road rage?
AAA described road rage as extreme cases of aggressive driving. Examples include:
Cursing and rude or obscene gestures.
Throwing objects.
Ramming.
Sideswiping.
Forcing a driver off the road.
AAA offered these tips to help prevent aggressive driving
Summary of tips to follow as you're driving:
Don’t offend: Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes, or turn the steering wheel in response to something you have done.
Be tolerant and forgiving: The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Assume that it’s not personal.
Do not respond: Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle, and contact 911 if needed.
Follow the rules of the road:
Maintain adequate following distance.
Use turn signals.
Allow others to merge.
Use your high beams responsibly.
Tap your horn if you must (but no long blasts with accompanying hand gestures).
Be considerate in parking lots. Park in one spot, not across multiple spaces. Be careful not to hit cars next to you with your door.
Remaining calm and courteous behind the wheel lowers your risk of an unpleasant encounter – with another driver and with law enforcement.
What should you do if confronted by an angry driver
Avoid eye contact with angry drivers.
Don’t respond to aggression with aggression.
If you feel you are at risk, drive to a public place such as a police station, hospital or fire station.
When you park, allow room so you can pull out safely if someone approaches you aggressively.
Use your horn to attract attention but remain in your locked vehicle.
If you are confronted, stay as calm and courteous as possible.
If you feel threatened, call 911.
How was the Forbes survey conducted?
To determine which states have the most confrontational drivers, Forbes Advisor conducted a survey of 10,000 U.S. licensed drivers — at least 200 in each state — who were at least 18 years old and own at least one car across nine key metrics:
Percentage of drivers who report that another driver has forced their car off the road: 16% of score.
Percentage of drivers who report that another driver has exited their vehicle to yell at or fight with them: 16% of score.
Percentage of drivers who report experiencing road rage very frequently from other drivers in their home state: 14% of score.
Percentage of drivers who report that another driver has tried to block their car from changing lanes: 14% of score.
Percentage of drivers who report that another driver has cut them off on purpose: 14% of score.
Percentage of drivers who report that another driver has tailgated their car: 8% of score.
Percentage of drivers who report that another driver has yelled at them, insulted them, cursed at them or made threats: 6% of score.
Percentage of drivers who report that another driver has honked at them in frustration: 6% of score.
Percentage of drivers who report that another driver has made rude or offensive gestures at them: 6% of score.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Road rage, aggressive driving US ranking, Forbes ranks Florida 17th
