By Shawn Henry 
Road rage in America isn’t just about heated words anymore—it’s getting bloodier by the mile. Forget shouting matches; these days, furious motorists are increasingly bypassing the drama and going straight for the trigger. A fresh AAA study spills the beans: honking wars have shot up 50% since 2016, while deliberate cutoffs? They’ve skyrocketed two-thirds. Nearly everyone surveyed—92%, to be exact—has seen some lunatic flooring it or playing bumper cars in traffic.
But here’s the twist: screaming your lungs out at some idiot behind the wheel? That’s dropping. Down 17%. Apparently, road warriors now prefer a darker, more lethal way to “express themselves.” SafeMotorist.com crunched the numbers—roughly 37% of aggressive driving dust-ups now feature a gun. Everytown Support Fund throws in another chilling stat: someone gets popped in a road rage incident every 18 hours. Last year? 483 people caught lead over traffic beefs. A hundred eighteen never made it home.
Why the spike? Blame pandemic-era gun-buying frenzies and a surge in firearms left ripe for the taking in cars. Funny thing is, nobody’s even tracking how these weapons are stashed in vehicles—just that now they’re everywhere, turning minor traffic squabbles into potential death sentences.
Welcome to the new American commute: where petty anger, easy access to firearms, and zero impulse control are mixing like gasoline and a lit match.