BETHLEHEM, Pa. — If it feels like drivers are more aggressive than ever, you’re not imagining it.
In fact, one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road — cutting off other vehicles — has skyrocketed 67%, according to a new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study.
And that’s just a small slice of a much larger issue, the study said. Nearly every driver — 96% of respondents — admitted to letting road rage get the better of them over the past year.
The foundation said responses came from a total of 53 participants from 27 states across eight focus groups.
While the pool of respondents was notably small, the FTS said methodology included a screener questionnaire asking about key demographic information and experience with aggressive driving and road rage behaviors.
Based on the answers to the screener, eligible participants were determined to be either “Drivers who occasionally engage in aggressive driving,” “Drivers who habitually engage in aggressive driving” or “Drivers who have engaged in road rage.”
Further explaining its methodology, the FTS said a purposive mix of participants such as those selected to ensure good representation according to key population groups.
While the study included a mix of urban, suburban and rural drivers of various ages, ethnicities and backgrounds, there were no participants over age 65, or with less than a high school degree.
Authors of the study said it still revealed themes such as putting others at risk, getting ahead, stealing space, controlling other driver behavior, provoking reactions, violence and more.
What drivers admitted
The study found:
- 92% said they’ve done something risky, such as speeding, tailgating, racing, zigzagging or cutting others off.
- 11% admit to going even further — bumping another car on purpose or confronting another driver.
- The vehicle played a role: Drivers of sports cars, big trucks and motorcycles were linked to higher levels of aggressive driving, with some motorists saying they felt more powerful and dominant behind the wheel of these vehicles.
“I think, just in general, our level of stress among humanity and just in society right now is at a higher level, for so many different reasons,” Beth Peters, an assistant professor and clinical psychologist at DeSales University, told LehighValleyNews.com for its Road Ahead report in March.
“I think that definitely adds to it. Driving itself can be stressful, especially if there's heavy traffic or if there's long commutes. Then, there’s what’s going to add to stress, like if you had a stressful day at work, or you had a stressful day with your kids.
“I feel like, in the year 2025, we are dealing with significantly higher stress levels and lower tolerance levels among people in general.”
How driving habits have shifted
The study updated research originally conducted by the FTS in 2016, offering an idea of how aggressive driving behaviors have changed.
Some behaviors have become common, responses showed, while others have declined:
- Cutting off other cars was up 67%
- Honking in anger was up 47%
- Tailgating was down 24%
- Yelling at drivers was down 17%
AAA’s advice: Cool it behind the wheel
AAA says small acts of courtesy — such as using your turn signal, letting someone merge or offering a wave — can stop road rage from escalating.
If you’re faced with an aggressive driver:
- Stay calm, don’t engage
- Give them space
- Protect yourself — call 911 or pull into a public place if you feel unsafe.
To keep your own road rage in check:
- Take a breath before reacting
- Don’t take the bait
- Leave early so you’re not rushing.
“Aggressive driving is dangerous, and our study finds that experiencing this behavior is common for almost all motorists and many of them admit to driving aggressively themselves,” Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central, said in a news release.
“This research shows that good manners and road etiquette can help curb these dangerous behaviors.”
