"What we are seeing is a lot of drivers who simply are not prepared to drive defensively on today's roadways," Gregory said.
Gregory is the director and lead instructor of Drivers of the Future, a driving school based in Raleigh.
She said tense encounters have become too common, often triggered by what she describes as brief flashes of frustration from other motorists.
"It's just momentary road rage," Gregory said.
She said that frustration can quickly turn hostile, even toward student drivers who are still learning.
"They will roll down their windows, and they will literally yell at the student driver," Gregory said.
Less than five minutes into the ride-along, another driver laid on the horn.
"He was making gestures and saying, come on, you could have made it through the light," Gregory said.
Gregory said those small moments of aggression have escalated into more serious incidents.
Road rage has been cited as a factor in multiple shootings, some deadly.
This week, there was a road-rage case in Johnston County on Tuesday, where one man was shot, and a suspect is in custody after an incident on U.S. 70.
In Durham on Saturday, authorities said a driver fired rounds at another car on I-85 and Hillandale Road.
In Garner last month, a father of five was shot and killed, allegedly by a food delivery driver.
"As you can imagine, that is absolutely terrifying," Gregory said.
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One of Gregory's students, Linus Lindsey, said he has already noticed aggressive behavior despite having limited time on the road.
"I've definitely seen some aggressive driving, being out only a couple of times. I've seen some people speeding, switching lanes aggressively, doing all kinds of crazy things," Lindsey said.
For teen drivers just starting out, Lindsey said patience from others can make a critical difference.
"Being able to learn with the right instructors and getting the right practice and being ready and prepared for the other drivers on the road," he said.
Safety experts advise drivers who encounter aggressive behavior not to engage. They recommend ignoring harassment, staying calm, and reporting dangerous drivers to authorities.