A clear majority of NRMA members surveyed in NSW and the ACT say they've had an angry encounter with another driver at least once or twice in the past year.

One-in-four drivers said children were present during the incidents.

The NRMA's Road Rage and Courtesy Driving survey of 2154 members released on Wednesday found 71 per cent of people had experienced road rage.

And 79 per cent of respondents had witnessed road rage involving other drivers.

Road rage was seen more frequently in metro and regional areas (81 per cent) than in rural NSW (72 per cent).

Road rage incidents witnessed by drivers included:

* physical assault of another driver (85 per cent)

* someone getting out of a vehicle to confront another driver (85 per cent)

* tailgating in anger (81 per cent)

* yelling or shouting abuse (78 per cent).

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said drivers need to keep their cool or face the consequences of exposure.

"Every bystander with a smartphone is now a recording witness - every dashcam an extension of the law," he said.

Some 13 per cent of NRMA members have dashboard cameras in their vehicles.

"You now have more chance of getting caught and charged and your embarrassing behaviour featuring extensively on the news and across social media," Mr Khoury said.

And a minor incident behind the wheel can easily escalate into a violent confrontation, with terrible consequences.

Australian Associated Press