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Sibley, Dolman, Gipe, Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, shared that we’ve all gotten annoyed by another driver on the road, but when that feeling escalates to anger, a situation can turn dangerous fast. Road rage is an escalation of aggressive driving tactics such as making rude gestures, and it is a criminal offense. Our list of road rage statistics details the causes and their shocking impacts on U.S. roadways.

Road Rage vs. Aggressive Driving

Road rage and aggressive driving are sometimes used interchangeably — so what is the difference between the two? Aggressive driving is a moving traffic offense that endangers another driver, and road rage is when this violation escalates to a criminal offense such as violence or intent to purposely harm another driver.

Aggressive driving includes tailgating, flipping rude gestures, weaving in and out of lanes, and more. Road rage is more violent acts, such as rear ending or bumping a car in anger, throwing something at another car, or attacking another driver.

Another difference between aggressive driving and road rage is the penalty. Aggressive driving is a ticketed traffic offense whereas road rage is a criminal offense that can lead to serious jail time.

How Many Road Rage Fatalities are There Each Year?

Road rage leads to 30 murders each year, and aggressive driving is a factor in an estimated 56% of all fatal crashes. This means that road rage murders, while terrifying, are rare, but fatalities from crash-related injuries sparked by aggressive driving are extremely common.

What Causes Road Rage

There are multiple factors that contribute to road rage, and oftentimes more than one are at play. Road conditions such as traffic and congestion often escalate aggressive driving offenses, and when paired with an angry driver in the wrong headspace, these situations can turn ugly fast.

Life stress, such as a fight with a spouse or getting fired at work, can cause a driver to see red behind the wheel. Drivers who don’t have good anger management skills are also at risk to snap and endanger their neighbors. Read on to learn about the proven causes of road rage.

Road Rage Facts

There are more drivers on the road now than ever before, and road rage is a growing problem. An estimated 80% of Americans frequently express significant anger while driving, and many don’t realize that road rage is a criminal offense. Here are some more road rage facts.

Road Rage Death Statistics

Sadly, road rage can and does lead to death. These worst-case scenarios may involve intentional murder or be the cause of traffic collisions that lead to death. Offenders can be charged criminally for these acts.

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Road Rage Statistics for Drivers 2021