One Quarter Of Americans Acknowledge Driving Aggressively

Whether "running late" or simply passing slow moving traffic in the left lane, one-fourth of Americans admit that they engage in aggressive driving, according to a recent national survey conducted by AAA. With nearly 180 million registered U.S. drivers, this translates into 45 million people driving aggressively on U.S. roads.

Of those who acknowledge engaging in aggressive driving, the most common forms of the behavior are speeding, 58 percent; expressing anger at other motorists, 26 percent; changing lanes excessively, 23 percent; tailgating and running red lights or stop signs, 11 percent each; and other, 5 percent. Respondents were permitted to choose more than one behavior.

The primary reasons given Factors cited for driving aggressively include "running late;" passing slow moving traffic in the left lane; being angry over non-driving issues before getting behind the wheel; traffic congestion; and being angered by the actions of other drivers. When running late or slow traffic in the fast lane are cited as the primary reasons, the resulting aggressive driving behavior most frequently takes the form of tailgating, running red lights/stop signs or excessive lane changes.

Although the terms aggressive driving and road rage are often used interchangeably, the AAA made it clear that their study focuses on aggressive driving alone. AAA defines aggressive driving as: The operation of a motor vehicle without regard for other motorists' safety, which is often the result of anger or frustration. Road rage, by contrast, involves a deliberate attempt to harm other persons or property arising from an incident involving the use of a motor vehicle.

The nationwide telephone opinion research survey was conducted with 942 respondents.