Driver Danger: 5 Tips For When You Encounter Someone With Road Rage

When another driver becomes aggressive, avoid eye contact and retaliatory gestures, create distance, and head toward a safe public location if necessary. Never drive home if you believe someone is following you – Shutterstock

An angry driver can turn a routine commute into a dangerous confrontation before the next traffic light changes. The safest response to road rage is often to give up something that feels satisfying, such as the last word, the right of way, or the chance to prove someone wrong. That can be harder than it sounds when another driver rides your bumper, leans on the horn, or makes a point of cutting you off.

Road rage deserves more than an eye roll and a muttered complaint about people’s driving. A September 2025 study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 96% of surveyed drivers reported at least one aggressive driving or road rage behavior during the previous year. The study also found that 11% reported violent behaviors.