Survey: Drivers stressed and frustrated by risky behaviors of others

Workers who drive as part of their job duties say they are stressed, frustrated and dealing with roads filled with aggressive drivers, according to Nationwide’s recent driver behavior survey. 

While the state of today’s roads has steadily become safer over the last few years since driving fatalities spiked just after 2020, transportation incidents continue to be the most frequent type of fatal event for workers, according to Bureau of Labor and Statistics data. In 2024, there were 1,146 work-related roadway fatalities and more than 76,000 injuries.  

Today, workers who spend much of their time behind the wheel are regularly experiencing dangerous behaviors by both passenger vehicles and other business-related drivers. Compared to a year ago, survey results showed: 

• 77% said passenger car drivers and 69% said commercial drivers (a 6-percentage point increase over 2025) are looking at their phones more  

• 77% said passenger car drivers (a 10-percentage point increase over 2025) and 67% said commercial drivers are more distracted  

• 75% said passenger car drivers and 70% said commercial drivers (a 10-percentage point increase over 2025) are driving faster  

• 74% said passenger car drivers and 65% said commercial drivers are more aggressive 

• 74% said passenger car drivers are unsafe around other commercial vehicles 

• 73% said passenger car drivers (a 10-percentage point increase) and 61% said commercial drivers (a 15-percentage point increase) are more reckless 

These are troubling indications for a job duty that is one of the most dangerous in America. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that vehicle-related crashes are the most frequent type of fatal event – accounting for more than 25% of all occupational fatalities during the year.¹ 

Drivers worried about accidents

When it comes to facing dangers on the road, drivers shared a high degree of concern about accidents and being injured or killed. While driving for work, 60% of drivers reported concern about aggressive drivers causing an accident. Slightly fewer (55%) expressed concern about being injured or killed in an accident. Other risks that drivers expressed concern about include: 

• Being involved in an accident that could impact employment (55%) 

• Rear-end collisions (50%) 

• Collisions at intersections (49%) 

• Being held personally liable for an accident (49%) 

These risks can contribute to the emotional state of drivers while they are behind the wheel. About half (47%) said they are stressed while driving. They also reported feeling: 

• Frustrated (43%) 

• Exhausted (40%) 

• Underappreciated (38%) 

• Anxious (35%) 

And more than 1 in 4 drivers (27%) also reported feeling enraged while on the road. 

Diving deeper into these feelings, for those who reported being stressed, their top causes of stress are: 

• Worsening traffic congestion (57%) 

• Reckless or thoughtless drivers (54%) 

• Long hours or difficulty staying alert (44%) 

• Running late or too much to do (31%) 

• Work responsibilities are distracting (29%) 

For those who reported feeling enraged, it is often the actions of other drivers that spark this strong response: 

• Distracted drivers (29%) 

• Aggressive driving (29%) 

• Being cut off (27%) 

• Sudden braking (26%) 

• Improper or sudden lane changes (25%) 

Work distracting driver attention

It’s not only other motorists who are leading drivers to feel stressed and enraged; it’s also road conditions or work itself. 

Over half (57%) of drivers say there are policies in place to minimize contact with them while they are driving, but 51% also say their supervisor contacts them while they are driving. Another 51% also say that their job requires them to make or receive phone calls while driving and 48% also said they feel pressure to be available for contact when driving for work. Nearly half of them (48%) say this contact from their employers distracts them. 

Certain conditions are also concerning for drivers. These include: 

• 53% reported poor weather and road conditions  

• 50% cited distracted drivers  

• 47% said traffic congestion  

• 28% reported fatigue  

• 26% indicated tight delivery schedules or deadlines  

• 24% said vehicle technology malfunctioning  

• 20% reported heavier workloads due to driver shortages  

Reducing road risk

Technology and training are key components of reducing risks for drivers, and employers are introducing measures that help their drivers stay safe on the roads. 

The adoption of telematics and dash cams has grown to help monitor driver behavior such as speeding, following too closely, rolling through stop signs, or aggressive lane changes. Dash cams also have benefits beyond monitoring driver behavior, as they can also be useful in determining fault if an accident does occur.  

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking are also technologies that can significantly reduce incidents. Automatic braking has been shown to reduce rear-end collisions by up to 50%.² 

In addition to technology, training is critical for drivers to help them recognize risky or dangerous situations and take appropriate actions to stay safe. Two-thirds of drivers reported that their employer makes training a priority and another 25% say it is somewhat of a priority at their business, according to our survey. 

Topics that they receive training on include: 

• Speed management (79%) 

• Proper following distance (76%) 

• Accidents/collisions (76%) 

• Driving in adverse weather conditions (73%) 

• Driving safely around pedestrians and bicycles (73%) 

• Distracted driving (72%) 

• Intersections and yielding right of way (69%) 

• Drowsy and fatigued driving (64%) 

Having conversations with clients about driver safety can help them develop a culture of safety. Talk to your clients about having these discussions with their drivers about their state of mind when they’re driving and what changes can be made to alleviate stress, frustration and rage.

Behaviors of other drivers on the road can’t be changed, but businesses can help their employees recognize dangerous situations and take actions to reduce the risk. 

Nationwide provides access to training and resources that can help businesses protect their workers. Our CL Safe Driver webpage contains links to these resources that leaders can share with their drivers. These include: 

• Distracted driving training 

• Avoiding Rear-end collisions 

• Avoiding Left-turn collisions 

• Distracted and inattentive driving (with sample policy) 

• Speeding dangers infographic  

Creating safer roads isn’t just about following rules; it’s about changing mindsets.   

People who drive as a regular part of their role need to exercise safe behavior every time they are behind the wheel. By doing so, they reduce risks and create a more responsible driving culture that benefits their teams, their businesses, and everyone on the road.