Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - While many drivers across the nation have experienced road rage in some form or fashion, a recent study shows that aggressive driving has widely increased, with some admitting to contributing to the rise in incidents.
According to findings from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a whopping 96% of drivers admit to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors over the past year. From speeding and tailgating to cutting off other vehicles, aggressive driving has become a near universal experience – and it's not just frustrating, it appears to be contagious.
"The study showed that people that experience road rage, maybe they encounter an aggressive driver... they get a little bit more aggressive," said Elizabeth Carey from AAA or Western and Central New York. "This is kind of fueling this culture where people are really impatient and they're hostile. 92% of drivers said they reported aggressive behaviors that put others at risk. They've admitted to speeding or cutting off other vehicles, and they're saying it's all because they want to get to their destination faster. Obviously acting like this isn't going to get you there any faster. It just puts others at risk."
This latest study updates research originally conducted by AAA back in 2016, offering a look at how aggressive driving behaviors have shifted over time. While some behaviors have become more common, others have declined:
"Cutting off other vehicles is actually up 67% since then, honking is up 47%. But on the other hand, tailgating is down 24% and yelling at other drivers is down 17%," Carey explained with WBEN. "We're seeing a little bit of a shift in behaviors, but still, a majority of drivers are admitting that, yes, we have taken part in aggressive driving, and road rage has gotten to us at one point or another."
For Carey, the most concerning trend with this survey is the 96% of drivers admitting to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors.
"When you think about it, everyone's in a rush, everybody wants to get where they want to go immediately, they want instantaneous information. And I think people just need to take things down a notch and realize that traffic safety comes first," Carey said. "You don't want to put yourself or other people at risk just because you're rushing to get somewhere. What could be so important?"
If anyone may happen to encounter an aggressive driver on the roadways, Carey advises people to stay calm and don't engage with them.
"Don't even look at them, avoid eye contact. Try not to get involved. It could just make things worse. Let them pass you, keep your distance away from them," she said. "And if it gets to the point where it gets really serious, call 9-1-1, go to a public place where there's other people around rather than driving home. We've seen stories, even here in Western New York, where people have followed people home because they were so enraged with them on the road. You don't want to go to your house, you don't want to let them know where you live."
And if you may find yourself feeling more tense behind the wheel, Carey points to a few things you can do to better yourself.
"Take a deep breath, reset, think positive, try to ignore other aggressive drivers. And, again, give yourself extra time to get where you're going, give yourself extra space around your vehicle," Carey said. "And just try to remember this: There's other things out there that are really important. People in today's society are very stressed out for a lot of different reasons, so try and take that into consideration when you're behind the wheel, and try and remain calm."