California tops the list of states with the worst road rage, while Hawaii is home to the most polite drivers in the nation.
The number of violent road rage incidents across the United States has surged over the past decade.
Between 2014 and 2023, road rage shootings increased by more than 400%, from 92 to 481, according to an analysis of data from the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive conducted by The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom that covers gun violence in America.
California tops the list of states with the worst road rage, while Hawaii is home to the most polite drivers in the nation. To determine which states have the most aggressive or confrontational drivers, Forbes Advisor surveyed 10,000 licensed drivers and compared all 50 states across nine key metrics.
States Ranking in the Top 3
California drivers led the pack as the most confrontational drivers nationwide, with many drivers experiencing road rage, including being cut off, cursed at, and tailgating.
The Golden State has the third-highest percentage of drivers who say another driver has cut them off on purpose (47.5%), and some 32% of California drivers have been on the receiving end of yelling, insults, curses, or threats — the fourth highest amount in the nation.
California tied with Mississippi (number six overall) on 35.5% of drivers reporting being blocked from merging or changing lanes. Additionally, 8.5% of California drivers experience road rage frequently from other drivers in their home state.
Missouri came in second on the list for most confrontational drivers, partly due to Missouri having the highest percentage of drivers who have been yelled at, insulted, or threatened by another driver (33.5%). In addition, 60.5% of the state’s drivers have reported another driver honking at them in frustration.
Ranking third for most confrontational drivers is Utah. Beehive state drivers were most likely in the nation to report that another driver has cut them off on purpose (49.5%), has tried to block their car from merging or changing lanes (42.5%), and made rude or offensive gestures at them (54%).
Finally, Utah drivers were fifth most likely to report they have been yelled at, insulted, cursed at, or threatened by another driver (31.5%).
Drivers reported experiencing road rage most frequently on freeways or highways (36%).
More Key Findings on the Top 10
Other states that ranked among the top five for road rage include Oklahoma and Colorado.
Oklahoma drivers were second most likely to report rude or offensive gestures while driving (46.5%) and fifth most likely to report other drivers blocking their car from merging or changing lanes (37.5%) and honking at them in frustration (58%).
In Colorado, 13% of drivers said another driver has exited their vehicle to yell at or fight with them — the third highest in the nation. Additionally, 46% of drivers have experienced another driver cutting them off on purpose.
Other noteworthy findings from the survey include:
- Four of the top 10 states with the most confrontational drivers are in the South, including Oklahoma, Mississippi, Virginia, and Maryland.
- Three of the top 10 states with the most polite drivers are in the Midwest: Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and three are in the West: Montana, Wyoming, and Hawaii.
- In the past 12 months, 41% of drivers witnessed an act of road rage, 32% experienced road rage from another driver, and 22% felt road rage themselves.
The top reason for feeling road rage was witnessing another person driving poorly (40%), and the second most cited reason was seeing another person driving aggressively (38%).
