DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado drivers are some of the worst in the nation when it comes to getting angry behind the wheel, according to a new report.
A report by the consumer research journal ConsumerAffairs that was released on Thursday ranked Colorado as the No. 3 worst state for road rage, up from No. 4 in last year’s report.
The research team at ConsumerAffairs identified which states have the worst road rage by analyzing data for deadly crashes involving careless to reckless driving, violations for dangerous driving and traffic incidents involving gun violence.
States with the worst road rage:
Louisiana
New Mexico
Colorado
Arkansas
Montana
The Centennial State was among the worst when it comes to gun violence on roads and had high numbers of deaths related to aggressive and careless driving.
Deadly crashes involving aggressive, careless driving
Road rage makes driving more dangerous and contributes to traffic-related deaths, according to the report, which found 43.5% of all the deadly crashes in Colorado in 2023 involved aggressive or careless driving.
There were 5.37 deaths per 100,000 people as a result of aggressive driving, about three times the national average of 1.78, according to the report. Colorado ranked No. 4 for this metric.
The Centennial State did not have the highest numbers for traffic-related deaths, but had the highest number of violations for aggressive, careless driving, or speeding of any state at 1.81 per 100,000 people. That amounts to over eight times the national average of 0.22, according to the report.
Traffic incidents involving gun violence
Colorado ranked at No. 6 when it comes to gun violence on roads, with 0.72 traffic incidents involving gun violence per 100,000 people. The national average was 0.42 per 100,000.
New Mexico (1.56 per 100,000)
Washington, D.C. (1.04 per 100,000)
Tennessee (0.99 per 100,000)
Wisconsin (0.86 per 100,000)
Arizona (0.78 per 100,000)
Colorado’s fatality numbers were significantly higher than each of the above states except New Mexico, contributing to the state’s high overall ranking.
Road rage incidents involving gun violence are in the news headlines regularly in Colorado. Some recent cases include:
April 21: Multiple shots were fired from a stolen vehicle in a road rage incident on Interstate 25
March 15: 1 person was shot and injured in a road rage shooting on U.S. Highway 36
March 1: A driver was injured after a road rage shooter fired shots at a vehicle with three kids inside on Interstate 76
Staying safe on roads
Traffic-related deaths in Colorado are down 21% so far in 2025, according to recent data from the Colorado Department of Transportation. The agency said one death is one too many and offered safety tips for drivers as the deadliest days of the year are ahead:
Buckle up on every trip, and ensure your passengers and any children are properly restrained.
Put the phone away while driving, even at stoplights.
Always plan a safe and sober ride when consuming alcohol, cannabis or other impairing substances.
Obey speed limits, especially in construction and school zones.
Stay alert and make eye contact with drivers when walking or biking across intersections.
The ConsumerAffairs report noted that some cities, particularly in the Denver metro area, are cracking down on traffic violations with new speed radar and red light cameras.
The report used data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (2023) and the Gun Violence Archive (2022-2024). More information can be found in the online report.
