Nearly All Drivers Experience Aggressive Driving: AAA

October 9, 2025

New research reveals that an alarming 96 percent of drivers admit to both driving aggressively and being on the receiving end, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The study found that the more drivers are exposed to aggressive behavior on the road, the more likely they are to exhibit aggressive driving behavior themselves.

“Almost every driver has either experienced or engaged in some form of aggressive driving, and that cycle only fuels more frustration on our roads,” said Doug Shupe, Auto Club Corporate Communications manager. “The good news is that we can break the cycle. By practicing patience, showing courtesy, and remembering that every driver is someone’s loved one, we can help create a safer, calmer driving culture for everyone.”

The latest study updates research originally conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in 2016, found that 92 percent of drivers reported aggressive behaviors that put others at risk, such as speeding or cutting off other vehicles. The top motivators were getting to their destination faster and avoiding perceived danger.

A fraction of drivers (11 percent) admitted to violent actions such as intentionally bumping another car or confronting another driver.

Younger and male drivers were more likely to report high levels of engagement in aggressive driving.

Drivers in sports cars, big trucks, and motorcycles were often perceived as more aggressive, according to the survey.

When the studies were compared, the data showed that some behaviors have become more common, while others have declined.

For example, since 2016, cutting off other vehicles increased by 67 percent, while honking out of anger increased 47 percent, but tailgating declined 24 percent, and yelling at other drivers went down 17 percent.