HOUSTON — A new report has Houston leading the way in a disturbing category -- road rage. The Trace, an organization that reports on gun violence, analyzed the data and found between 2014 and 2023, Houston had the most road rage incidents in the country.
Not only that, the Bayou City had the most road rage confrontations with guns and the most victims shot during road rage.
In all, the organization says 207 people were killed or wounded in Houston during that time period, thanks to road rage. That’s more than twice as many as the second city on the list, Milwaukee.
The issue appears to be getting worse, going from just 16 reported incidents in Texas in 2014 to 78 in 2023.
A researcher at The Ohio State University told The Trace that access to firearms could be part of the reason. His study found that access to weapons in a car made some drivers more aggressive on the road. Texans have been able to carry a handgun without a license since 2021.
So how can you avoid road rage? According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the best thing to do is stay calm and focus on your own driving. Give angry drivers plenty of room and avoid contact with people looking for a confrontation. Also keep in mind that aggressive driving can get you in trouble with the law. You can be fined up to $200 for each violation.