88% of Drivers Have Road Raged: Surprising Links to Music & Car Brands

Music has a bigger impact on driving than you might think. It can calm you down, amp you up, or even fuel risky behaviors like speeding or getting distracted. From favorite genres to car types and generational habits, this study — based on a survey of over 1,000 drivers — dives into how music influences emotions and behaviors behind the wheel and the surprising ways it affects drivers on the road.

Key Takeaways

• 88% of drivers have experienced road rage, with women (91%) being more likely than men (85%) to report it.
• Indie listeners report the highest road rage at 96%, followed by metal listeners at 89%.
• Pop is the most calming genre, with 31% of drivers switching to it to manage anger or frustration.
• 56% of drivers believe certain car brands provoke road rage, with BMW (44%) and Tesla (33%) leading.
• 22% of EV drivers have been provoked by gas-powered car drivers simply for driving an electric vehicle.
• Classical (63%) and metal (67%) listeners are the least likely to engage in risky behaviors while driving.
• Nearly 1 in 6 drivers (15%) admit to almost causing an accident while changing a song, with punk (36%) and hip-hop (22%) fans being the most likely to say so.

Driving Emotions

Music has a unique way of stirring emotions, and for drivers, it can mean the difference between a peaceful ride and a tense commute. Some genres are fueling frustration, while others are helping to keep anger in check.

When it comes to preferred commuting music, rock topped the charts. The top 10 music genres drivers typically listened to while commuting included:

• Rock: 56%
• Pop: 52%
• Hip-hop: 35%
• Alternative: 34%
• Country: 24%
• R&B/Soul: 21%
• Indie: 20%
• EDM: 20%
• Metal: 19%
• Punk: 12%

Nearly 88% of drivers admitted to experiencing road rage, with indie music listeners reporting the highest rate at 96%. Metal listeners followed next at 89%. Women were more likely to encounter road rage (91%) compared to men (85%). By generation, younger drivers experienced it most — Gen Z and Millennials tied at 90%, followed by Gen X at 87% and baby boomers at 83%.

Drivers most often reported experiencing road rage while listening to Calvin Harris, a popular DJ and producer known for his high-energy EDM hits. The top 10 artists and bands most associated with road rage incidents overall were:

1. Calvin Harris
2. Kane Brown
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival
4. David Guetta
5. The Rolling Stones
6. Alan Walker
7. Chris Stapleton
8. Katy Perry
9. Disturbed
10. The Beatles

Among hard rock and metal fans who have experienced road rage, Disturbed was the most listened to, followed by Aerosmith. Evanescence and Guns N' Roses tied for third, with Black Sabbath in fourth. Interestingly, Pop stood out as the genre drivers said they most frequently switch to in order to calm down: 31% of drivers said pop songs prevent feelings of anger or frustration.

While road rage is common, many drivers regret their actions after the fact. More than half of drivers (53%) said they feel remorse, with country (74%), punk (71%), and indie (67%) listeners being the most likely to regret their behavior. Only 28% of metal listeners expressed regret, making them the least likely group to do so.

How drivers manage road rage also varies a lot by generation. Gen Z drivers were the most likely to keep their anger bottled up, with 79% internalizing their frustration. They were also the least likely to resort to honking or yelling, with just 21% admitting to these behaviors.

Older generations were less likely to keep their emotions in check, with 65% of millennials, 60% of baby boomers, and 57% of Gen Xers holding their road rage inside. These drivers were much more likely than Gen Z to express road rage by honking or yelling. Gen X led at 43%, followed by baby boomers (40%) and millennials (35%).

Road Rage by Car Brand

Do certain cars make drivers angrier? Whether it's the type of vehicle or the brand itself, road rage patterns show distinct differences that reveal how drivers — and their cars — interact on the road.

Drivers of vans and minivans topped the list, with 98% admitting to experiencing road rage. Compact car drivers were next at 95%, while EV owners reported a slightly lower rate at 91%. Pickup truck drivers came in at 90%, and SUV drivers at 88%. Luxury vehicle drivers were the least likely to admit to road rage incidents (80%).

More than half of drivers (56%) believe that certain car brands provoke road rage. Leading the list is BMW, with 44% of respondents associating the brand with provoking frustration on the road. Tesla followed as the second most-provoking brand, with 33% of drivers naming it as a trigger for road rage incidents. On the flip side, 22% of electric vehicle drivers said they've been targeted by gas-powered car drivers just for driving an EV.

Driving Risks and Emotional Responses

Whether it's speeding, tailgating, or getting distracted, certain genres seem to influence how drivers handle the road.

Speeding emerged as the most common risky driving behavior, with indie (83%), EDM (78%), and alternative (72%) listeners being the most likely to speed. Distracted driving ranked second, with punk (57%), indie (57%), and EDM (44%) fans reporting it the most often. Nearly 1 in 6 drivers (15%) admitted to almost causing an accident while changing a song, with punk (36%) and hip-hop (22%) listeners being the most likely to do so.

Other risky behaviors included tailgating, where indie (24%), classical (22%), and hip-hop (21%) fans reported the highest rates. EDM listeners were the most likely to cut off other drivers (28%), followed by hip-hop (22%) and alternative (18%). Driving under the influence was also most associated with EDM (20%), indie (17%), and hip-hop (14%) listeners.

Overall, classical (63%) and metal (67%) listeners were the least likely to engage in any risky driving behaviors. Generationally, millennials reported the highest rate at 78%, followed closely by Gen Z and Gen X (both at 76%). Baby boomers were the least likely to engage in risky driving at 62%.

Nearly 1 in 3 drivers (30%) believed that listening to music while driving enhances their reaction times. This was especially common among fans of classical music (56%), R&B/soul (43%), and EDM (41%). On the other hand, 1 in 16 drivers said music worsened their reaction times, with punk listeners (14%) being the most likely to feel this way.

The Link Between Music Preferences and Driver Behavior

The study shows that music, driving habits, and emotions are more connected than you might think. Generational differences and perceptions of certain car brands also play a role, suggesting that what we listen to — and what we drive — can influence how we act on the road. It's a reminder to be more mindful of our behavior while on the road and that the right playlist might just make all the difference.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,012 drivers to explore the relationship between driving behaviors and music preferences. The generational breakdown was 13% Gen Z, 47% millennials, 29% Gen X, and 12% baby boomers. The data was collected in December 2024.

About Lance Surety Bonds

Lance Surety Bonds is a trusted provider of surety bond solutions for businesses and individuals across industries. Whether you're a commercial driver or a business operating in transportation, we help ensure compliance and financial protection with bonds like auto dealer bonds and freight broker bonds. Our excellent customer service and streamlined online process make it quick and easy to get the bonds you need to stay on the road legally and confidently.

Fair Use Statement

If you share this content, please provide proper attribution to Lance Surety Bonds and include a link back to the original source.