The Rudest Things Drivers Do on the Road

So why the fury? “I think there’s a misunderstanding, or a mismatch, between what the rules are and how people actually behave in situations,” says Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us. “We take our notion of ‘cutting in line’ from everyday life into traffic, and so when they’ve set up zipper-merge systems, which tell drivers to wait until the last minute to merge, you still find people trying to block the lane.”

It’s not always selfishness. Sometimes it’s just science. If you’re the one waiting until the merge point, do it cleanly and confidently, like you’ve read the manual. And if you’re on the receiving end, resist the urge to “enforce justice” with your bumper. It’s not cutting, it’s choreography.

The ‘Turn Signals Are for Suckers’ Driver

You’ve seen the mystery weavers who treat every lane change like a surprise party. No blink, no hint, just a sudden swerve that leaves you clutching the wheel like it’s the last churro at the state fair.

The data is jaw-dropping. A Society of Automotive Engineers study found that Americans skip their signals about 25 percent of the time when turning, and nearly 50 percent of the time when changing lanes. That’s not forgetfulness, that’s a national epidemic of telepathy gone wrong.

“No matter how you use our roadway system, it is important to be as predictable as possible and give yourself ample room for error,” says Morris. “This means using your turn signal to help drivers and other road users [know] your intention, but also following the speed limit and keeping a safe distance between you and other drivers. If you’re the guilty party, remember: The blinker isn’t optional. It’s literally a finger you can wag at other drivers to say, “Relax, I’ve got this.” Use it, and everyone — including you — gets home with less stress and fewer near-misses.

Note to any "Parking Lot Picasso" — slow down, straighten up and re-park if necessary.

Madeline McMahon

The ‘Parking Lot Picasso’

Parallel lines? Optional. Compact-only spots? Aspirational. The Parking Lot Picasso is the motorist who treats white stripes as gentle suggestions, leaving their SUV or flashy sports car sprawled diagonally as if it just fainted from exhaustion. Few things inspire more low-level rage than circling a Target lot only to find the last open spot rendered useless by somebody’s abstract expressionist parking job.

“I am currently teaching my 16-year-old how to drive, and while she’s very good with most things, she has struggled with what might seem the simplest: aiming the car into a parking spot,” says Vanderbilt. “These problems are compounded by having an extra-large SUV, and some of the sight lines on contemporary vehicles — I am looking at you, Cybertruck! — are pretty terrible. So instead of nipping into port in a zippy little speedboat, people are trying to maneuver these big land yachts from high up in the captain’s chair.”

The fix is simple, if not glamorous: Slow down, straighten up and re-park if necessary. Nobody wins prizes for the fastest parking job, but you’ll save yourself the side-eye of every driver stuck navigating around your vehicular installation art.

The ‘Brake-Check Connoisseur’

Otherwise known as the self-appointed vigilante of the freeway, tapping their brakes like they’re conducting an angry symphony. Sometimes it’s a hard slam meant to scare off a tailgater. Other times it’s nervous footwork in traffic, like a jittery tap dancer who missed their calling. Either way, it’s a recipe for disaster.

“Some drivers may brake hard as an angry response to punish tailgaters or as a means to intimidate other drivers. It rarely produces the desired effect and often leads to a rear-end collision,” says David A. Sleet, a longtime injury epidemiologist who helped lead the CDC’s motor vehicle injury prevention work. He notes that even well-meaning drivers aren’t immune: “In other cases, drivers may tap their brakes often as a way they think it will prepare them to stop more quickly in the case of an emergency, but it is usually counterproductive.”

The stakes are huge. “Deliberate brake-checking is illegal and considered reckless driving in many states, and can carry stiff penalties. Even a brief hard brake can lead to multicar pileups,” Sleet cautions. Rear-end crashes already account for 29 percent of police-reported accidents in the U.S., causing 1.5 million injuries and 3,300 deaths annually, according to data from the National Safety Council.

For older drivers, the risks are amplified. “Reaction time … age-related conditions like arthritis … and more fragile bodies all mean even a minor fender bender can have lasting consequences,” says Sleet. If you’re tempted to “teach a lesson” with your brake pedal, remember that the lesson may be delivered in the ER.

Instead of brake-checking, ease off the gas, change lanes and let the tailgater pass. It’s not just safer, it’s the ultimate power move. Nothing annoys an aggressive driver more than realizing you’re too zen to play their game.

The ‘Right Lane Rear-Ender-in-Waiting’

Nothing raises the blood pressure faster than a car practically climbing into your trunk while you’re already doing the speed limit. You check the speedometer, you check the mirror, and there they are — close enough to qualify as your carpool buddy.

“It could be anything from mild bullying to a failure to understand that there is something called a passing lane,” says Vanderbilt. “With tailgating in general, because events like extreme braking don’t happen much, I feel that people often don’t understand the physics involved were they to have to make an emergency stop. They also don’t seem to understand that by tailgating, they are consuming the safety margin of the driver behind them.”

And it’s not just about crash risk. An important 2017 MIT study found that tailgating actually creates maddening “phantom” traffic jams — the kind that appear out of nowhere on a perfectly clear road. Simply leaving a little extra space between cars can make those backups vanish almost entirely.

If you’re being tailgated, don’t brake-check your way into a fender bender. Signal, slide right, and let them speed off toward their destiny with the state troopers. If you’re the one tailgating, congratulations: You’re not just annoying, you’re personally inventing traffic jams. Back off before everyone hates you.

The ‘Green Light Honker’

The light turns green. You exhale, move your foot an inch toward the gas pedal — and instantly get blasted. The Green Light Honker isn’t here for patience; they’re here for split-second reflexes, as if driving were an Olympic sport in button-mashing. 

“From my experience, that behavior is conditioned as much by the driving environment,” says Vanderbilt. “In small-town Vermont, I don’t think I’ve ever been honked at. But in a time-pressed place like New York City, where every intersection is sort of a losing battle against your own progress, it would only seem natural to want that traffic flow moving again.”

If you’re on the receiving end, don’t let it rattle you — move safely, not frantically. And if you’re the one leaning on the horn, take a breath. Being five seconds late to your next red light isn’t worth turning into a one-person brass section.

How to be a safe driver

Traffic safety is trending in the right direction. In the first half of 2025, an estimated 18,720 people died in traffic crashes, according to preliminary data from the National Safety Council. That’s 13 percent fewer lives lost than the same period in 2024 — even though Americans actually drove slightly more miles (up 0.8 percent).

That’s the good news. The challenge now is keeping those numbers moving in the right direction. And that means not letting our temper — or our phone, or our impatience — take the wheel.

“Because of the anonymity of traffic, and the idea that you’re rarely, if ever, going to be punished for impolite behavior — plus the added stressors of driving itself, or time pressure — I think we all struggle to maintain the social behavior that guides our everyday life,” says Vanderbilt. “Driving turns us all into narcissists.”

The antidote is awareness: of yourself, your habits and the drivers around you. For practical tips, AARP’s Driver Safety program offers 12 steps to take after a crash, a Smart Driver Course, plus guides to car apps and tracking devices that can help make your trips safer.