Overview

• A national AAA Foundation survey of more than 3,000 drivers reports 96% admitted at least one aggressive act and 92% engaged in risk‑producing behaviors such as speeding or cutting others off.
• Eleven percent acknowledged violent actions, including intentionally bumping another vehicle or confronting another driver.
• Aggression was shown to be socially contagious, with higher exposure linked to higher self‑reported aggression behind the wheel.
• Behavior patterns shifted since 2016, with cutting off up 67% and honking in anger up 47%, while tailgating fell 24% and yelling dropped 17%.
• Local coverage tied the findings to Maryland’s highway gun‑violence initiative, where troopers investigated 225 firearms‑related cases and seized 90 guns with roughly 70 arrests, as AAA promotes de‑escalation and courtesy to prevent escalation.