Aggressive driving and road rage shootings are at an all-time high. What you need to know.

News headlines in the past few years have contained the term “road rage shooting” more and more often, reporting on a deadly trend that seems to worsen with time. Aggressive driving regularly causes collisions, but now, firearms are an added factor.

In the past two months — in fewer than 60 days — several road rage shootings were reported across the United States.

In May, a Las Vegas woman ducked to avoid the bullet fired into her car by an angry driver. In June, a 19-year-old passenger in a car in Tennessee was shot in the head and survived.

A 62-year-old Florida man’s car was peppered with gunshots, two separate semi-truck drivers were injured, and a 36-year-old Maryland man was killed in a road rage shooting — all in the first week of July.

These six instances are not the only ones that occurred in that seven-week period, and they are part of a vast and growing collection of road rage shootings. Here is what you should know to protect yourself from aggressive driving.

What is road rage?

Driving can be frustrating — there’s no denying that. But when typical annoyance becomes anger, drivers might act more recklessly and aggressively. This is road rage.

Unfortunately, most data available on aggressive driving is outdated, meaning it does not account for the recent spike in road rage. Psychologists have studied the condition and can identify common factors among aggressive drivers. Here are some behaviors of high-anger drivers, according to the American Psychological Association.

• Hostile thinking patterns; insulting other drivers and desiring revenge
• Risky driving; speeding, running red lights, tailgating, etc.
• Confrontation; name-calling, honking, etc.
• Quickness to anger; daily anger, impulsivity, outwardly expressed anxiety

Drivers with road rage have near-accidents and receive speeding tickets more often than other drivers.

Why do people drive aggressively?

The emotions we experience in our daily lives can affect the things we do. If you have a bad day at work, you carry that tension with you during your drive home. Pre-existing stress and anger are two of the main reasons for aggressive driving. Regular annoyances can feel bigger than they are and spark exaggerated responses.

Drivers surveyed also said that facing heavy traffic, running late and feeling tired makes them more prone to road rage.

Why are road rage shootings increasing?

Road rage shootings increased nearly 450% in a decade, from 83 in 2014 to 456 last year, according to The Trace. Aggressive drivers, when distracted by rage and motivated by revenge, have poor impulse control. Some reach for weapons.

Between 2014 and 2023, there were 28 road rage shootings in Indianapolis. Neighboring cities saw similar numbers: 26 in Columbus, OH; 18 in Louisville, KY; and 17 in Kansas City, MO. Chicago tops the list with 65 road rage shootings.

Just as drivers’ reactions to stressful situations have intensified, so have the stressors themselves. As I have discussed in previous articles, distracted driving is a dominant issue on the roads. Cell phone use kills thousands of drivers and passengers each year, and it is only one type of distraction. Adjusting the radio, eating, and even daydreaming are behaviors that impair a driver’s ability to operate their vehicle safely.

There are more semi-trucks and other commercial motor vehicles crowding the roads today, and construction sites seem to pop up everywhere. For a driver prone to road rage, these frustrations can trigger aggression. They might tailgate the car ahead of them to the point of collision, crowd lanes to cut cars off, or start verbal or physical fights.

Or, as is the case more and more often, they could reach for a firearm.

What state has the angriest drivers?

Forbes Advisor conducted a study to determine where in the United States road rage is the worst. It surveyed 10,000 drivers and followed metrics, like the percentage of drivers who reported being forced off the road, being tailgated, receiving rude gestures, being approached by a violent driver outside of their car, and more.

(This study did not factor gun violence into its data.)

The 10 worst states for aggressive driving:

Here at Craig, Kelley & Faultless, our personal injury attorneys are licensed to represent clients in six states, including Illinois and Ohio. The Forbes Advisor survey deemed both of those states some of the worst in the country when it comes to road rage. This is consistent with data from The Trace, which lists Illinois and Ohio as the 10^th and 11^th most dangerous states, with 95 and 93 road rage shootings, respectively, between 2014 and 2023.

Illinois drivers are the most likely to report being forced off the road by another car, and they’re tied with two other states as most likely to report being blocked from changing lanes by another driver.

Ohio drivers are some of the most likely to be honked at by others, according to the survey, and over half of them said they have been intentionally cut off by another driver.

Looking at all 50 states, researchers found that drivers are angry most often on city streets, followed by freeways and highways. Aggressive driving occurs least on rural roads.

How to tell if you have road rage, and what to do about it

When you’re trying to get somewhere and you feel on edge, do you swerve between lanes quickly and without a turn signal? Do you blare your horn in non-emergency situations? Even if you don’t act on impulse, do you cut other cars off in traffic, swear at drivers, or speed 10-20 mph over the limit?

Engaging in any or all of these behaviors means you have road rage. You’re not alone, and there are ways to curb that aggression. Sources report that relaxation and mindfulness exercises, as well as cognitive-relaxation therapy, are effective in treating road rage. This might mean spending 10 minutes closing your eyes and readying yourself in the morning before leaving for work or practicing deep-breathing techniques while driving. Some people find podcasts or calming music helpful.

Many people who feel road rage will never harm another driver on purpose. But as the number of road rage incidents, including shootings, gets higher, so does the need for preventative action. Take the time to find what works for you.

Final thoughts: Road rage shootings

Between June 27 and July 3 in Indianapolis, there were three road rage shootings. Those contributed to a total of 40 interstate shootings in the city this year, according to Indiana State Police.

As an attorney representing victims of personal injury or wrongful death, I have seen many road rage incidents resulting in tragedy. I handled a case against a semi driver who engaged in road rage and ended up seriously injuring our clients. The trucker used his semi tractor-trailer as a weapon and ran his truck off the roadway, across the grass and intentionally hit our clients’ vehicle.

Whether through mild to severe collisions or gun violence, aggressive driving causes chaos on roads across the country.

At Craig, Kelley & Faultless, we believe no one should face harm or lose a loved one because of aggressive driving. If you are the victim of a road rage incident involving a car or a commercial motor vehicle, reach out to us at 800-746-0226 or through our online form.

David W. Craig sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.