Research done by AAA has found that more than 50 percent of fatal crashes involve some form of aggressive driving.
"My dad the other day, coming home from my tournament, he said that someone cut him off so he like honked his horn at him and the dude got out of the car, then he got out of the car then someone just came in and broke up the fight before it started off."
Nearly eight out of 10 U.S drivers expressed significant anger, aggression, or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year, according to new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Research.
"I remember when there were times I didn't see something and I didn't intentionally cut somebody off, and yet they honked the horn and looked at me like I was the devil. I made that honest mistake and I try to project and say if they made that honest mistake I could have made it once too."
Aggressive drivers and road rage varies from person to person, but Smith says he only drives that way if he is pressed for time.
"Depends if I am in a hurry or not, if I'm not in a hurry I don't care, but if I'm in a hurry I get mad if peoples driving under the speed limit."
Much of that road rage and aggression comes from drivers always in a rush. Lt. Brown gives tips on how to slow down, and avoid unsafe behaviors behind the wheel.
"When people start getting anxious and in a hurry, and they start making those violations that do cause crashes, we just want to remind everyone again to take your time, plan your route. make sure you have the route you are going to go, how much time its going to take to get there. Allow yourself plenty of time, allow for those construction delays or other types of hazards along the way, weather for instance, defensive driving is the way to traffic safety."
Nearly 80 percent of U.S. drivers said they have engaged in at least one aggressive driving behavior, that can include purposefully tailgating, yelling, honking, using angry gestures, cutting off another vehicle or even getting out to confront a driver.
"I remember a nun once said to me when you are out on the road to be patient and just think of everybody else is just trying to get their needs met the same way as you."
If you see someone that is driving aggressively or that you might think is under the influence, local authorities encourage you to dial 911 or #Â 677 to be connected to the nearest highway patrol dispatch center.
