Road rage often contributes to roadway crashes, and California sees more than its fair share of aggressive drivers. In fact, California is among the worst states in the nation for road rage, which occurs when a motorist experiences anger and exhibits aggression in an effort to cause verbal or physical harm to someone else.
According to Bankrate, California ranks third in the nation when it comes to road rage incidents involving firearms, trailing only behind Texas and Florida, which claimed the first and second spots, respectively. Studies show that some road rage behaviors are more common than others and that some drivers are more prone to exhibiting aggression behind the wheel than others.
Common road rage behaviors
Almost 80% of American motorists admit to engaging in road rage-related behaviors behind the wheel. Sometimes, road rage involves tailgating, which increases the chances of a rear-end collision. Other times, road rage might include drivers making rude gestures, attempting to run other drivers off of the road, cutting other motorists off or bumping them from behind, among other possible examples.
Common characteristics of drivers prone to road rage
Research shows that teen motorists who are 19 and under are four times as likely to find themselves in a crash involving aggressive driving than older drivers with more experience. Road rage incidents are also more common during the summertime, and during rush hour, which is typically between about 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Drivers whose aggression or road rage contributes to crashes may face sanctions, especially if someone suffers a serious injury as a result of their actions.