How bad is Missouri’s road rage? Here’s what drivers said in a national survey
It’s easy to get frustrated while on the road. You get cut off in traffic, a driver in front of you is going slower than you’d like, someone’s trying to turn left when it’s not allowed or another car almost runs into you.
Road rage varies from state to state, but in extreme cases, it can lead to fatal incidents. Last month, a 20-year-old was killed in Kansas City road rage shooting on the 700 block of Southwest Boulevard.
In a recent study by Forbes Advisor, the personal finance publication surveyed 10,000 licensed drivers across the United States and found, in the past 12 months:
- 41% of drivers witnessed an act of road rage.
- 32% were the target of road rage from another driver.
- 22% felt road rage themselves.
The national study found that Missouri has some of the most confrontational drivers in the United States.
The survey included 200 drivers from each state and compared them all across nine key behaviors drivers reported, like drivers cutting them off on purpose, tailgating them, honking at them in frustration or making a rude or offensive gesture toward them.
Missouri has the second-most confrontational drivers in the country, according to Forbes’ data. That’s up from 2023, when the state ranked 18th.
How did Missouri earn its ranking?
On a scale of 100, Missouri earned a 99.44 from Forbes’ data. About 33.5% drivers in the state reportedly have been yelled at or threatened by another driver, the highest percentage nationwide.
Forbes’ data also found that Missouri drivers reported:
- The second-highest percentage of drivers who report another driver has cut them off on purpose (48%).
- The third-highest percentage of drivers who say another driver has forced their car off the road (13.5%).
- The third-highest percentage of drivers who report another driver has honked at them in frustration (60.5%).
- The fifth-highest percentage of drivers who have been on the receiving end of rude or offensive gestures (45.5%).
- The sixth-highest percentage of drivers who report another driver has tried to block them from merging or changing lanes (37%).
- The ninth-highest percentage of drivers who have been tailgated (59.5%).
How does Missouri compare to the rest of the United States?
Missouri fell just behind California for the most confrontational drivers in the United States, which received a 100 on the scale. Other states in the top five for road rage include Utah, Oklahoma and Colorado.
Utah reported having the highest percentage of drivers who report another driver has cut them off on purpose, while Oklahoma reported the second-highest percentage of drivers who have experienced rude or offensive gestures while driving. Colorado has the third-highest percentage of drivers who reported another driver exiting their vehicle to yell at or fight with them.
Hawaii was ranked as having the most polite drivers in the United States.
