BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — AAA is confirming what many people believed to be true: men tend to be more aggressive behind the wheel.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released the findings of a 2019 survey on Thursday, finding that regardless of gender, 79% of American drivers exhibit aggressive behaviors like speeding, tailgating, merging dangerously, making rude gestures, and honking at other drivers.
Overall, younger drivers tend to be more aggressive than older drivers. And the data of that survey shows that men are aggressive on the road more often than women.
The table below shows the trends in the ways both men and women responded to AAA's survey:
| Aggressive Driving Behavior | Men | Women |
| Drove 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway | 52.0% | 44.6% |
| Followed the vehicle in front closely to prevent another vehicle from merging | 37.8% | 29.3% |
| Made rude gesture/honked at another driver | 35.4% | 28% |
| Drove through a red light | 32.2% | 30.0% |
| Drove aggressively by switching lanes quickly and/or very close behind another car | 31.5% | 21.4% |
With everyday stress already compounded by the pandemic and now the holiday season, AAA is urging drivers everywhere to keep their cool behind the wheel to help keep everyone safe on the road.
“Speeding, red-light running, and cutting other drivers off can kill you, your passengers, and others sharing the road,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy. “Driving aggressively isn’t worth the risk. When you get behind the wheel, be patient, be kind, and obey traffic laws so everyone gets home safely.”
AAA recommends drivers stick to the following rules of the road to stay safe:
- Follow posted speed limits.
- Maintain an adequate following distance.
- Use turn signals.
- Allow others to merge.
- Use your high beams responsibly.
- Be considerate in parking lots—Park in one spot, not across multiple spaces. Be careful not to hit cars next to you with your door.
Nelson adds, “If you encounter an aggressive driver on the road or find your temper rising, remember to slow yourself down, breathe deeply, and safely create distance between you and other motorists. Aggressive drivers are likely not thinking about their potential impact on others until it is too late."
