California Drivers Ranked Among the Worst in 2024

In 2024, California emerged as one of the most challenging states for drivers, topping national rankings for road rage and aggressive driving behaviors. 

Two prominent studies, by Forbes Advisor and LendingTree, highlighted the state’s driving issues, offering insights into the factors contributing to its poor standing.​

California Tops Forbes’ 2024 Road Rage Rankings

According to a Forbes Advisor study, California was identified as having the most confrontational drivers in the United States. This marked a significant rise from its 13th position in 2023. The study surveyed 10,000 licensed drivers across all 50 states, evaluating nine metrics related to road rage and aggressive driving behaviors.

Key findings for California included:​

• 47.5% of drivers reported being deliberately cut off by another driver.​
• 32% experienced verbal aggression, such as yelling or insults.​
• 11% witnessed other drivers exiting their vehicles to confront someone.​
• 35.5% had attempts made to block them from merging or changing lanes.​
• 60.5% reported being tailgated.​
• 8.5% experienced road rage very frequently from other drivers.

These statistics underscore a high prevalence of aggressive driving behaviors in the state.

LendingTree Ranks California 3rd for Worst Drivers

In a separate analysis by LendingTree, California was ranked third among states with the worst drivers. The study analyzed tens of millions of insurance inquiries from November 2023 to November 2024, focusing on incidents such as accidents, DUIs, speeding-related violations, and general citations. 

California’s notable statistics included:​

• 55.0 incidents per 1,000 drivers, encompassing accidents, DUIs, speeding, and citations.​
• 39.7 accidents per 1,000 drivers, tying for the second-highest accident rate nationally.​
• 3.5 DUIs per 1,000 drivers, placing it among the top states for impaired driving incidents.

These figures highlight the state’s challenges in maintaining safe driving conditions.

California Car Accidents

In 2024, California experienced a significant number of traffic-related fatalities. According to data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were at least 2,571 deaths on local roadways. This figure underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring road safety across the state

If you were involved in a car accident and have medical expenses, our car accident attorneys in Orange County can help you recover compensation and hold the responsible party liable.