Is Your Driving Habit Aggressive? Find Out Now

Aggressive driving, defined by AAA as engaging in deliberate and unsafe behaviors behind the wheel, is a bad habit — and a common one.

A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 96% of drivers admitted to engaging in aggressive driving. The most common behaviors included: speeding up for a yellow light (82%), passing on the right (68%), glaring at another driver (65%), honking (66%) and driving 15 mph faster than the flow of traffic (58%).

Do you consider yourself an aggressive driver? Here are some indicators, as taught in the AAA Defensive Driving Course.

Do You Ever:

• Speed?
• Run red lights?
• Follow other cars too closely?
• Fail to obey traffic control signs, such as yield, one way, no U-turn?
• Maneuver or turn improperly?
• Maneuver in a way that forces another driver to change their speed or direction, such as cutting them off or not yielding the right-of-way when necessary?
• “Camp out” in the left lane, which is the passing lane?
• Hit the brakes without cause or warning?

Aggressive Driving vs. Road Rage

Road rage is the step up from aggressive driving. This involves even more dangerous behaviors drivers should never engage in. You likely have road rage if you ever have:

• Thrown objects at another vehicle.
• Yelled insults or made rude gestures at another roadway user.
• Attempted to sideswipe or ram another vehicle or tried to or did force another car off the road.

Road rage and aggressive driving are serious safety hazards, often contributing to crashes.

Driving while emotionally compromised, which includes being angry, sad, crying or emotionally agitated, raises the risk of a crash almost 10 times, according to one study. Furthermore, the error rate for angry drivers can be as much as 2 1/2 times more than that for emotionally stable drivers.

All that anger also takes a toll on your health. The stress and anxiety generated when driving aggressively increases your blood pressure and heart rate, which could increase your risk for heart attack or stroke.

To stay calm while driving, Brain Butterworth, senior manager of AAA Driving School, suggests leaving plenty of time to get where you’re going. This can help reduce any temptation to speed, or frustration you might feel if you get stuck in traffic. If you’re already upset, don’t drive until you’ve calmed down. And if you’re on a longer drive, take breaks. AAA recommends scheduling a break every two hours or every 100 miles. Keep your focus on safety and try be as courteous as possible to other drivers; say sorry, wave thank you and let other drivers merge into your lane .

More Tips to Avoid Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

Other drivers may do things that are inconsiderate, and even illegal. Don’t respond personally — most drivers aren’t thinking about others, they are simply in a rush, distracted or upset. Use these tips to prevent aggressive driving behaviors and to avoid becoming the target of a road rage driver.

Follow the Rules of the Road

• Don’t tailgate.
• Don’t block the passing lane.
• Use turn signals when turning or changing lanes.
• Maintain adequate following distance.

Dealing With Confrontation

• Avoid eye contact with angry drivers.
• Give angry/aggressive drivers lots of room.
• Don’t make obscene gestures.
• Avoid using the horn with an angry driver.
• Don’t take another driver’s mistakes personally.
• Do not go home; go to a public place.
• Don’t exit the vehicle to argue or engage another driver.

And Always Remember:

• Don’t offend. Never cause another driver to change their speed or direction. That means not forcing another driver to use their brakes or turn the steering wheel in response to something you have done.
• Be tolerant and forgiving. The other driver may just be having a really bad day. Assume that it’s not personal.
• Do not respond to aggressive driving behaviors. Avoid eye contact, don’t make gestures, maintain space around your vehicle and contact 911 if needed.

For more ways to keep your cool and stay and safe while driving, check out our rules for dealing with a tailgater.

To improve your driving habits, consider taking the AAA Defensive Driving Course. AAA Northeast also offers driver training programs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Do you ever catch yourself driving too aggressively? What do you do to calm down?

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

Last updated on February 16, 2026 by AAA Staff

Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.