The Burrow
Nov 18, 2025
Whether you’ve just passed your test or you’ve been driving for years, it’s common to get frustrated by others’ actions when out on the road, but staying in control of your emotions is important to avoid causing any accidental incidents.
When tensions boil over between drivers, arguments can occur, and in some cases, violence. This is known as “road rage”, and it can be a dangerous habit to fall into. But just how common is it in the US and Australia?
To find out, the car insurance experts at Compare the Market Australia conducted a survey of drivers in these two countries in a bid to understand how people in different parts of the world handle their anger while driving, looking at where road rage is most common, its most common causes, and how many people are affected by it.
Discover what we found out below.
To see the result of our 2024 study, click here.
Our first survey question asked how common different road rage behaviours were among American drivers, with almost 1 in 5 (18%) saying they’re likely to shout, curse, or make obscene gestures at other cars on the road if they get angry while driving.
In fact, this ranked as the most common behaviour, ahead of aggressive horn honking, which 12% of our survey participants said they are likely to partake in. Meanwhile, around 6% of American respondents say they would tailgate (intentionally drive close to the rear of another vehicle) drivers they were annoyed at, while 1 in 20 (5%) would cut someone off intentionally if they found their driving frustrating.
Interestingly, the number of victims who have been affected by road rage is noticeably higher than the number of participants who say they have exhibited these behaviours. Around a third of drivers (33%) report being tailgated, while just under a quarter (24%) have been cut off intentionally. This can lead to dangerous situations, with 23% of drivers having to suddenly brake or swerve to avoid being targeted by angry drivers.
Tailgating and cutting other cars off rank among the driving behaviours our American survey participants say they’re most frustrated by (36% and 30%, respectively), but one behaviour beats them both. Phone use while driving is by far the most common pet peeve on U.S. roads, with 43% of those surveyed saying it annoys them.
And while you’d think having passengers would make drivers more considerate, for most, having other passengers in the car didn’t seem to change their behaviour. 59% of Americans say they exhibit the same level of road rage whether or not anyone else is in the car, but 1 in 5 (20%) say they act more calmly with passengers, while just 6% of drivers say they become more frustrated with others in their vehicle.
Regional differences in road rage behaviour also show that certain states have different habits from others. Respondents from Illinois, for example, are more likely to shout or curse than the national average (24%). Texans are particularly frustrated by phone use while driving (47%), while New Yorkers are more likely to complain about drivers running red lights and stop signs (28%).
Based on our survey, it also appears that Australia shares many of the same road rage behaviours as the United States, but some are more common down under. For example, 1 in 5 Australians say they shout, curse, or gesture when driving (20%), and 13% say they flash their lights at drivers who are frustrating them.
Tailgating incidents are more widely reported in Australia, with 41% of our participants in the country saying they were a victim of the behaviour. This has also led to more instances of dangerous driving, as 27% have had to brake or swerve to avoid accidents. Almost a quarter of Australians (23%) have also been honked at excessively on the road.
While Americans report phone usage as the most annoying driving habit, Australians are more frustrated with tailgating. Almost half of our Australian survey participants (47%) mentioned tailgating as one of their least favourite driving behaviours, compared with 36% who complained about phone use. Around a third of the country (33%) say that slow drivers and poor parking also frustrate them.
In contrast to the US, though, Australian drivers are more likely to be affected by other passengers when experiencing road rage. While just 6% of Americans say that having others in the vehicle worsens their road rage, 12% of Australians agree it ups the ante, while 11% say that having passengers in the car makes them less angry, and less than half (45%) say that their attitude changes depending on the moment.
In terms of regional differences, drivers in Victoria rank among the most likely to curse or shout when driving. More than a quarter of local drivers (26%) report verbally confronting drivers, compared to just 14% in New South Wales.
Queensland drivers also exhibited dangerous habits, with almost 1 in 10 (9%) admitting to brake-checking others on the road. This involves suddenly braking to deliberately panic other drivers, which can lead to accidents if the vehicle behind doesn’t respond in time.
Executive General Manager of General Insurance at Compare the Market, Adrian Taylor, notes how comprehensive car insurance can provide you with peace of mind while you’re on the road.
“We all feel the urge to let other drivers know how we feel sometimes, but while it’s important to communicate issues at other times, roads are dangerous and busy places where a confrontation could get out of hand quickly,” Mr Taylor said.
“It’s a good idea to make sure you have suitable car insurance to protect against damage from road rage incidents.
“When looking to take our car insurance, it’s a good idea to compare your options in order to find an ideal policy that suits your car and your lifestyle.”
Compare the Market commissioned 3Gem to survey 1,500 people who drive or have driven, aged 18+ year in the U.S and 500 in Australia in October 2025.