A recent analysis by The Trace, a nonprofit focused on America’s “gun violence crisis,” reveals alarming statistics about road rage incidents involving firearms. In 2023, someone was shot in a road rage incident every 18 hours, a dramatic increase from 2014 when such incidents occurred every four days. This marks a staggering 400% increase over the nine-year period, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.
Between 2014 and 2023, a total of 3,095 people were shot in road rage incidents across the U.S., with 777 of these individuals losing their lives.
In Georgia, the number of reported road rage shootings surged from zero in 2014 to 197 in 2023, placing the state among the top 10 worst for such incidents.
Top 10 States for Road Rage Incidents Involving Guns (2014-2023):
- Texas — 741
- Florida — 488
- California — 321
- Tennessee — 263
- Pennsylvania & Wisconsin — 201
- Georgia & Michigan — 197
- Arizona — 164
- Ohio — 160
- North Carolina — 155
- Missouri — 154
In contrast, the states with the fewest reported road rage shootings were Wyoming (6), North Dakota (7), and South Dakota (8).
Most of these shootings in Georgia occurred in the City of Atlanta, often triggered by collisions, near-collisions, or other offenses that incite anger among drivers. Atlanta’s notorious traffic exacerbates these situations.
Recent Incidents in Metro Atlanta:
- Downtown Connector Shooting: Car peppered with bullets during a road rage incident.
- I-20 Shooting: Man and woman found shot in their car; police investigating.
- Chamblee Incident: Video shows man firing repeatedly at a driver who rear-ended him.
- Gwinnett County: Man jumps out of a moving car after a road rage shooting.
- Teen Arrested: Charged with the murder of a 31-year-old mother in a road rage shooting.
- Lawrenceville Arrest: Police release dramatic dash cam video of a suspected road rage shooter.
A 2019 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that approximately 8 out of 10 drivers experienced some form of road rage incident in the month prior to the study. Additionally, a 2017 study revealed that drivers with guns in their vehicles were more likely to drive aggressively, regardless of whether they used the gun.
Between 2014 and 2023, Atlanta saw 55 road rage incidents involving guns, with 47 resulting in gunfire and 50 people being shot. Other cities in the Atlanta metropolitan area, including Brookhaven, College Park, Doraville, and Sandy Springs, experienced six incidents, four of which involved gunfire, resulting in five people being shot.
Factors Contributing to Road Rage Increase
According to Everytown Research & Policy, Southern states tend to have more road rage shootings due to their weaker gun laws. States that do not require a permit for carrying a gun have nearly triple the rate of road rage shootings.
Experts attribute the rise in road rage to several factors, including poor impulse control among aggressive drivers and the presence of guns, which can escalate aggressive behavior.
Underlying Causes
Psychologist Carla Manly explains that the increase in road rage is due to complex underlying issues, often stemming from unresolved personal problems. The perceived invulnerability and anonymity provided by a vehicle can lead drivers to act more aggressively, similar to behaviors seen on social media.
Other contributing factors include the decline in face-to-face interactions due to technology and the internet, leading to dehumanization. The lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and current economic struggles have also been cited as contributing factors, with increased mental health issues and financial stress since 2020.
Reporting Challenges
Law enforcement agencies do not release statistics on road rage shootings as a specific category of crime, and not all incidents may be reported, making it difficult to capture the full scope of the issue.