In a recent report by Forbes Advisor, Arizona has earned the dubious distinction of being ranked as the number one state in the U.S. with the highest number of confrontational drivers. Based on a scale of 0-100 points, this finding assigned Arizona a full score of 100 points, signaling a concerning trend on its roads.

The comprehensive survey was carried out by the market research firm OnePoll. The research involved canvassing the opinions of more than 10,000 licensed drivers aged 18 and above, all of whom owned at least one vehicle. The analysis spanned all 50 states, considering key metrics such as instances of drivers being forced off the road, experiences of being blocked from changing lanes, intentional cutoffs, and the occurrence of being verbally or physically confronted, insulted, or threatened.

The concerning results indicate that road rage incidents are on the rise nationwide. This unsettling trend is exemplified by the fact that road rage-related injuries have surged by 135% since 2018, with 413 people injured in road rage shootings in 2022, according to Forbes Advisor.

The report paints a vivid picture of the confrontational driving scenario in Arizona. An astounding 81% of drivers in the state reported experiencing incidents such as being yelled at, insulted, cursed, or threatened by fellow drivers. Even more alarming is that 31.5% of Arizona drivers recounted incidents where another driver escalated the situation by exiting their vehicle to confront them, marking the state’s position as the fifth highest in the nation for such incidents.

When analyzing the data further, it’s evident that Arizona’s confrontational driving situation encompasses various facets. The state ranked second worst (22%) for drivers intentionally forced off the road. Arizona and Oklahoma shared the third-highest percentage (70.5%) of drivers who’ve experienced tailgating on the road.

The survey also delved into the underlying factors contributing to road rage incidents, with respondents highlighting the following top five reasons:

• Heavy traffic: 39.35%
• Pre-existing stress: 38.06%
• Running late: 33.89%
• Pre-existing anger: 32.49%
• Fatigue: 26.86%

In terms of specific locations where road rage tends to manifest, the survey results unveiled the following top four places:

• Freeways or highways: 26.59%
• Parking lots: 14.9%
• Intersections: 12.36%
• Rural roads: 6.99%

According to the report, these are the states with the most confrontational driving behaviors:

1. Arizona
2. Rhode Island
3. West Virginia
4. Virginia
5. Oklahoma

The results emphasize the need for increased awareness and action to address the growing issue of confrontational driving on Arizona’s roads.

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