Road Rage is Everywhere, Reports AAA, as Man Shot and Killed in Phoenix Incident

Americans seem to be mad about everything these days and nowhere is that more apparent than on our roadways. Fully 96% of U.S. motorists admit they’ve cut off another driver or committed some other aggressive act over the past year, according to a new AAA study. In one incident over the weekend, reports Headlight.News, a man was shot and killed.

It can start innocently enough. Another vehicle changes lanes without warning, or a driver beeps his horn because you’re not moving as fast as they’d like. Moments later, the situation has escalated into road rage, drivers tailgating, cutting one another off, making obscene gestures and even making threats.

Over the weekend, a man was shot and killed when he got into a confrontation at a busy intersection in Phoenix, Arizona. “He spit on here and she shot him,” a witness reported.

Chances are it’s not just “the other guy” who is guilty. Fully 96% of U.S. motorists have engaged in some form of road rage over the past year, according to a new study by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. But there are ways to avoid engaging in road rage incidents, the study suggests.

Everyone is doing it

Considering the current state of the nation, perhaps it’s no surprise that road rage incidents have become so common. It seems like Americans have reached a point where we shout first and ask questions later. Unfortunately, we may also shoot first in some road rage incidents. A separate study by The Trace found that the number of shootings linked to roadway confrontations increased more than 500%, from 92 to 481, between 2014 and 2023.

“Driving can be a stressful experience due to behaviors of others on the road and how you respond to various situations,” said David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Our study finds that experiencing various forms of aggressive driving behaviors is common for almost all motorists and many drive aggressively.”

While seemingly everyone admits to getting involved in a road rage incident at some point or another, AAA found that certain types of motorists were more likely to express their anger than others. These included drivers of sports cars, large pickups and SUVs, and motorcyclists. A separate study released last February by LendingTree.com named Tesla drivers the worst on the road, however, and found that they also had the highest number of road rage “incidents” that involved a crash.

Most common road rage behaviors

According to AAA, 92% of drivers reported road rage behaviors that went beyond just using words or gestures, including cutting off other vehicles. And 11% admitted to “violent actions,” like intentionally bumping another vehicle or confronting the other driver.

The most common behaviors?

• 67% of those polled said they’ve cut off other vehicles;
• 42% have honked “out of anger”
• But the study found that tailgating and yelling at other drivers have actually become less common in recent years.

More Driving News

• GM Patents Anti-Road Rage Device
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• Drivers Are More Passionate Than Ever About Their Vehicles

How to avoid road rage

“Road etiquette and manners can be a protective factor against aggressive driving. Let’s change our driving culture so we can achieve the safe mobility vision for all road users,” said AAA’s Yang.

With road rage-related violence on the rise, he and other experts caution motorists to try to tamp down their anger on the highway, even if there might be a reason to get mad. Take a deep breath before you react, suggested AAA, and don’t take the bait if another driver makes an obscene gesture or makes an aggressive move. If you do encounter an aggressive driver, the study concludes,

• Stay Calm – Don’t engage. Don’t make eye contact, no gestures, no response.
• Give Space  — Let the other driver pass and keep your distance.
• Protect Yourself  — if need be, call 911 or go to a public place — never drive home.