The Angriest Drivers in America Live in These 10 States
A new study reveals where road rage is most common, and some of the top contenders might surprise you.
I’ve definitely had my share of tense moments on the road…someone tailgating way too close, blaring their horn the second a light turns green, or getting a little too creative with hand gestures. Road rage isn’t anything new, but it really does feel like it’s gotten worse in the last few years.
A recent study by Malloy Law Offices confirmed what a lot of us have been sensing: road rage incidents have gotten more violent. In fact, the number of people killed in road rage shootings has doubled since 2018. And in 2023 alone, someone was injured in a road rage shooting nearly every single day. That’s wild.
Curious to know which states are the worst offenders? Malloy Law dug into data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. They looked at everything from gun-related road rage to aggressive driving fatalities and gave each state a “Road Rage Score.” Spoiler: some of these rankings definitely surprised me.
10. Delaware
Road Rage Score: 49.32
Delaware might be small, but its road rage problem isn’t. Between I-95 traffic and tight city streets, drivers here are quick to lose patience. While it doesn’t lead the pack for violence, aggressive behavior behind the wheel is common enough to earn it a spot in the top 10.
9. Nevada
Road Rage Score: 49.61
It’s not all glitz and slot machines in Nevada. Vegas traffic can be downright brutal, and once you leave the cities, long stretches of isolated desert highways don’t exactly help tempers. Whether you’re gridlocked on the Strip or stuck behind someone going 50 in the fast lane, the odds of an angry encounter are a little too high.
8. Arkansas
Road Rage Score: 51.02
Arkansas may fly under the radar in most national rankings, but not this one. From construction slowdowns to impatient drivers on back roads, folks here seem to have a short fuse. It’s not always dramatic, but it’s enough to land Arkansas in the top 10.
7. North Carolina
Road Rage Score: 51.74
North Carolina’s got a lot going for it, mountains, beaches, BBQ, but calm drivers? Not so much. As cities like Raleigh and Charlotte grow, so does the traffic. Add in out-of-towners on the highways during beach season, and you’ve got a recipe for road rage.
6. Montana
Road Rage Score: 54.86
This one surprised me. With all that open space and big sky, you’d think Montana drivers would be relaxed. But nope. The study found that when rage does happen here, it tends to escalate quickly. Long drives, high speed limits, and minimal police presence probably don’t help.
5. Wisconsin
Road Rage Score: 54.33
I’d love to say we’re all polite, cheese-loving drivers here in Wisconsin, but according to this study, that’s not the full story. Between never-ending construction zones, icy roads, and people forgetting how to merge, it’s not all Midwest nice behind the wheel. (I’ll be the first to admit, too, we have a bad tendency to park in the left lane and not just use it for passing!)
4. Louisiana
Road Rage Score: 62.68
Louisiana roads are… rough. Traffic in Baton Rouge and New Orleans can be a nightmare, and many of the roads are in serious need of repair. Dodging potholes while someone tailgates you? Not exactly a recipe for calm driving.
3. New Mexico
Road Rage Score: 62.56
New Mexico might not have the same level of congestion as other states, but it has more road rage-related gun violence per capita than anywhere else on this list. The wide open roads can lead to some scary behavior—2.08 incidents per 100,000 residents involved gun violence in 2022 alone. That’s the highest rate in the top 10.
2. New Jersey
Road Rage Score: 65.40
No one is shocked to see New Jersey near the top. With more than 9 million people packed into a small area, and tons of commuters heading to or from New York City, driving here can be intense. Add in a culture where being direct is just… how people operate, and you’ve got a state where road rage is basically baked into the commute. (Honestly, out of all the states I’ve driven in, New Jersey is the one I’ve by far experienced the most road rage.)
1. Colorado
Road Rage Score: 65.93
Coming in at #1: Colorado. Yep, the land of scenic hikes and mountain views is also the angriest place to drive in America. As Denver keeps growing, so does the traffic, and so does the frustration. Unpredictable weather doesn’t help either. Hail in July, snow in April, and a whole lot of stressed-out drivers trying to get through it all.
If you’re more curious about how specific cities stack up when it comes to driving—good and bad—this study I covered breaks down the best and worst U.S. cities for drivers. Spoiler: some of the “worst” ones might not surprise you.
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