Aggressive driving has become a serious issue on our highways. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a staggering 66% of traffic fatalities are tied to aggressive driving behaviors.
Even more troubling: half of drivers who experience aggression (like rude gestures or tailgating) admit to retaliating with aggressive behavior themselves. But what happens when hostility on the road escalates beyond dangerous driving: road rage.
Which is scarier? Road rage.
Use the tips below to help you stay safe around road rage or aggressive drivers.
You might think that aggressive driving is the same as road rage, but it is not. They differ in severity and intent.
Aggressive Driving is defined by the NHTSA as:
“An individual committing a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”
It is a traffic offense and includes:
Aggressive driving is reckless and dangerous, but it does not necessarily involve violence.
Road Rage
According to the National Safety Council, road rage is aggressive, sometimes violent behavior by drivers, resulting from a traffic incident. A person uses their vehicle—or even weapons—with the intent to harm someone or damage property.
Road rage is distinct from aggressive driving as it involves using a vehicle as a weapon to endanger others intentionally.
Shocking statistics:
Road rage is not just intimidation—it’s assault. It turns routine traffic tensions into potentially life-threatening confrontations.
For example, a driver becomes enraged over another driver’s actions (i.e.,speeding), so much so that he overreacts and retaliates with some form of violence such as a physical confrontation, an assault with a motor vehicle or even use of a weapon.
These situations can be scary, so follow these safety strategies on how to handle yourself around an angry, aggressive, or bullying driver.
Defensive driving and emotional awareness behind the wheel are crucial to protecting yourself and others.
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Aggressive driving and road rage are more than irritations—they are contributors to thousands of injuries and fatalities every year. Let us help you understand your legal options. Contact our experienced personal injury attorneys for a free, no-obligation review of your case at (877) 284-6600.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published January 22, 2016. It was reviewed on August 11, 2022, for content and accuracy and republished. It was again edited on July 25, 2025.
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