California has the most aggressive drivers in the country by far, study finds

Traffic moves along highway 880 through downtown Oakland. Click ahead to see the most dangerous states for drivers. Traffic moves along highway 880 through downtown Oakland. Click ahead to see the most dangerous states for drivers. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 19 Caption Close California has the most aggressive drivers in the country by far, study finds 1 / 19 Back to Gallery

You're not alone in shaking your fist and honking — maybe a tad too liberally — at misbehaving drivers on California roads.

The Golden State is home to the most aggressive drivers in the nation, a recent study found.

YourMechanic, a Mountain View car service startup, analyzed nine data points —including driver skill, car theft rates, weather conditions and road congestion — for every state in the U.S. It then ranked the states numerically in a handful of categories.

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California took the first spot only in the aggressive drivers category, with an "aggressive driving event" — i.e. speeding, brake checking, tailgating — occurring every 6.6 minutes, according to the report. Connecticut follows behind California with a rate of 8.2 minutes.

Aggressive driving is a criminal offense in California. The state penal code considers reckless driving — the "willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property" — a misdemeanor offense and convicted drivers can face up to 90 days imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000.

California came in fourth for most dangerous state to drive in overall, behind New Mexico, Louisiana and Oklahoma. It also has some of the most congested roads in the nation (2nd on the ranking) and the country's fourth highest car theft rate, at 425.9 thefts per 100,000 residents.

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In a 2016 study by AAA, 78 percent of U.S. drivers surveyed reported having engaged in aggressive behavior.

"AAA is actually concerned that this problem is worse than recent findings, as drivers tend to under-report engaging in aggressive driving behaviors due to their negative social connotation," explained AAA spokesperson Michael Blasky. He cited figures from the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration that show there was a 600-percent increase in deadly road rage crimes between 2006 and 2016.

Blasky said he would be "hard-pressed" to say California drivers are more aggressive than those in other states, but there are several factors that could contribute to California driver's aggression.

"We obviously have more drivers in California than most states, and our roadways are more congested due to the booming economy on the West Coast," he said.

"Low unemployment and higher wages means that more people are driving to work, and driving longer distances, which could be a factor in increased stress and more tension between drivers. Despite BART and other transit options, almost 90% of commuters still drive alone to work in the Bay Area."

The Department of Motor Vehicles recommends drivers experiencing heightened emotions on the road — otherwise known as "road rage" — listen to soothing music, maintain ample space between other cars and refrain from making prolonged eye contact or obscene gestures at people on the road.

If you've upset another driver, the DMV says to show remorse by waving at the driver, mouthing that you're sorry and allowing them room to pass. Those who believe they are in imminent danger should call police.

Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.

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