Road Rage — A Growing Problem

A survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says road rage is a growing problem on city streets, highways and freeways. The foundation said in the past year a stunning 96% of those responding to the survey said they’ve engaged in aggressive driving or road rage behavior.

Orange County California therapist, Matthew Bernarda said someone cutting you off in traffic is not just a minor inconvenience. Your brain sees it as a serious threat. “Road rage is not just bad manners or impatience. It is a complex psychological event that can escalate in a matter of seconds,” he said.

Carolina Estevez is a clinical psychologist at SOBA New Jersey. She says road rage can be contagious.

“Drivers tend to mimic the level of emotional intensity present in those around them, thus creating a domino effect that can lead to aggressive behaviors escalating in severity very quickly,” she said and noted the best defense is no offense like flipping someone off or glaring at them. “Avoid eye contact and retaliation. Give the driver space and focus on finding a way out instead of trying to win the situation.”

Motorists in some states experience more road rage than those in others. The Consumer Affairs Research Team took a look at the issue and analyzed data from fatal crashes to violations for dangerous driving to incidents where gun violence occurs.

Arkansas ranked first in the nation for road rage in 2026. It replaces Louisiana who has held the top spot (if you can call it that) for two years. The PIA Western Alliance state of New Mexico ranks second and has the nation’s highest rate of road rage involving guns.

For the second year in a row, Maine maintains its hold as the state with the lowest number of road rage incidents.

Here are the 10 worst states for road rage. To rank how each state lands with road rage, the AAA ranked road rage by six categories. You will see the categories in the statistics below.

Four of the worst are the PIA Western Alliance states of New Mexico (2), Nevada(6), Montana (7) and Hawaii (9).

1. Arkansas

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence: 0.36 per 100,000 people

• Traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 0.58 per 100,000 people

• The highest number of fatal accidents in the U.S. involving aggressive or careless driving: 8.35 per 100,000 people

• Accounted for 47% of all fatal crashes in the state — also the highest in the nation

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 9.33 per 100,000 people — the highest in the nation

• Accounted for 48% of all traffic fatalities in the state — the highest in the nation

2. New Mexico

• The most traffic incidents in the country involving gun violence: 1.69 per 100,000 people

• Traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 0.66 per 100,000 people

• The third highest number of fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 6.62 per 100,000 people

• Accounted for 37% of all fatal crashes in the state — sixth highest in the U.S.

• The third highest number of fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 7.37 per 100,000 people

• Accounted for 38% of all traffic fatalities in the state — sixth highest

3. Louisiana

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence: 0.50 per 100,000 people

• The fourth highest number of traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 1.24 per 100,000 people

• Fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 7.09 per 100,000 people — second highest in the U.S.

• Accounted for 46% of all fatal crashes in the state — also second highest

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 7.66 per 100,000 people — second highest

• Accounted for 47% of all traffic fatalities in the state — second highest

4. Colorado

• The ninth highest number of traffic incidents involving gun violence: 0.65 per 100,000 people

• The highest number of traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 2.65 per 100,000 people

• The fifth highest number of fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 4.28 per 100,000 people

• Accounted for 40% of all fatal crashes in the state — fifth highest

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 4.65 per 100,000 people — fifth highest)

• Accounted for 40% of all traffic fatalities in the state — fifth highest

5. New Jersey

• The lowest number of traffic incidents involving gun violence in the U.S.: 0.06 per 100,000 people

• Traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 1.51 per 100,000 people — third highest

• Fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 3.03 per 100,000 people — ninth highest

• Accounted for 45% of all fatal crashes in the state — third highest

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 3.22 per 100,000 people — 10th highest

• Accounted for 46% of all traffic fatalities in the state — third highest

6. Nevada

• The sixth highest number of traffic incidents involving gun violence in the country: 0.70 per 100,000 people

• Traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 0.89 per 100,000 people — sixth highest

• Fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 3.70 per 100,000 people — sixth highest

• Accounted for 32% of all fatal crashes in the state — seventh highest

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 4.28 per 100,000 people — sixth highest

• Accounted for 34% of all traffic fatalities in the state — eighth highest

7. Montana

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence: 0.18 per 100,000 people

• Traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 0.44 per 100,000 people

• Fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 5.10 per 100,000 people — fourth highest in the U.S.

• Accounted for 30% of all fatal crashes in the state — ninth highest

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 5.19 per 100,000 people — fourth highest

• Accounted for 29% of all traffic fatalities in the state — ninth highest

8. Wisconsin

• The fifth highest number of traffic incidents involving gun violence: 0.70 per 100,000 people

• Traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 0.45 per 100,000 people

• Fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 2.80 per 100,000 people

• Accounted for 32% of all fatal crashes in the state — eighth highest

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 3.37 per 100,000 people — ninth highest

• Accounted for 34% of all traffic fatalities in the state — seventh highest

9. Hawaii

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence: 0.14 per 100,000 people

• Traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 0.07 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest in the U.S.

• The 10th highest number of fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 2.90 per 100,000 people

• Accounted for 43% of all fatal crashes in the state — fourth highest

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 3.18 per 100,000 people

• Accounted for 45% of all traffic fatalities in the state — fourth highest

10. North Carolina

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence: 0.51 per 100,000 people

• The ninth highest number of traffic violations for aggressive/careless driving or speeding: 0.70 per 100,000 people

• Fatal accidents involving aggressive or careless driving: 3.30 per 100,000 people — eighth highest

• Accounted for 24% of all fatal crashes in the state

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 3.49 per 100,000 people — seventh highest

• Accounted for 24% of all traffic fatalities in the state

These are the states with the least road rage. Surprisingly, the PIA Western Alliance state of California — with 10 cities with major traffic issues — ranks second lowest in the nation. The PIA Western Alliance state of Washington — with its awful I-5, I-90 and I-405 corridor traffic running from Olympia to Seattle and north — ranks as the 8th lowest road rage state.

• Maine

• California

• Utah

• Iowa

• Ohio

• Virginia

• New Hampshire

• Washington

• Mississippi

• Kentucky

Total scores and ranking of all PIA Western Alliance states:

2. New Mexico

• Total score out of 100: 99.88

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: up 3

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 1.69

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.66

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 6.62

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 37%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 7.37

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 38%

6. Nevada

• Total score out of 100: 68.51

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: up 3

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.70

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.89

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 3.70

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 32%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 4.28

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 34%

7. Montana

• Total score out of 100: 60.34

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: down 2

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.18

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.44

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 5.10

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 30%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 5.19

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 29%

9. Hawaii

• Total score out of 100: 60.01

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: down 1

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.14

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.07

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 2.90

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 43%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 3.18

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 45%

20. Idaho

• Total score out of 100: 28.99

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: up 17

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.20

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.05

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 1.90

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 17%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 1.95

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 16%

31. Oregon

• Total score out of 100: 19.33

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: down 1

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.12

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.66

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.91

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 8%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.96

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 8%

34. Arizona

• Total score out of 100: 16.94

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: up 1

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.66

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.28

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.46

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 3%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.57

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 3%

38. Alaska

• Total score out of 100: 13.59

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: down 13

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.14

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.14

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0,68

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 8%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.68

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 7%

44. Washington

• Total score out of 100: 9.58

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: down 12

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.34

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.26

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.18

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 2%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.18

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 2%

50. California

• Total score out of 100: 3.51

• Change in rank from 2025 to 2026: down 1

• Traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 residents: 0.18

• Violations for aggressive driving, careless driving or speeding per 100,000 residents: 0.03

• Fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.06

• Share of fatal crashes involving aggressive or careless driving: 1%

• Fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving per 100,000 residents: 0.06

• Share of all fatalities involving aggressive or careless driving: 1%

Source link: Consumer Affairs — https://bit.ly/4vjnKBb