SAN ANTONIO – The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety did a yearlong study in 2014, and after compiling the data, it just released the numbers.
One statistic that stands out: 8 out of 10 U.S. drivers said they showed anger, aggression or road rage at least one time in the previous year.
"The main thing is, don't engage them," said Susan Gutierrez, an instructor with Central Park Driving School. "It is something that we teach every day in class. That is part of our curriculum, is to make the student aware of what is out there in real life."
The study also revealed that about 25 percent of drivers said they tried to block another driver from changing lanes on purpose, and about 12 percent of drivers said they cut off another driver.
Those statistics make teaching beginning drivers even more challenging.
"It kind of freaks me out because we have seen some people get really upset, so we notice they are not driving right," said Chanel Romo, a 17-year-old student driver.
Gutierrez summed up the way to handle driving in a simple way.
"You need to have the right frame of mind. If you’re upset, don't get in the car," Gutierrez said. "Those emotions are going to take over."