Drivers will sometimes admit that they exercised poor judgment when driving aggressively or dangerously, and will often say they tried to improve their behavior on the road, according to a recent survey. But the survey found that people often sought to justify their behavior as well, or were overconfident in their driving skills.

The survey by the forensic engineering company Envista Forensics surveyed 2,000 Americans who admitted that they have been dangerous drivers. The report specifically focused on rushed, distracted, aggressive, and intoxicated driving.

Rushed driving was defined to include speeding, changing lanes unsafely, and disobeying traffic lights and signs. Nearly half of the respondents—48 percent—said they drove this way because they did not want to look bad, such as arriving late at a meeting.

Thirty percent said they were rushed because they were "generally impatient," and 21 percent said they didn't want to lose an opportunity, such as missing a flight. Only 1 percent of respondents said they drove in a rushed manner because they got a thrill out of it.

Respondents who admitted to distracted driving—which was defined as engaging in any activity other than driving, including eating and talking on a cell phone—frequently said they did not think they were causing a serious hazard. Thirty-six percent said they were only briefly distracted, 22 percent said they had to do something they did not think could wait, and 20 percent said they thought they could safely multitask while driving. Twenty-two percent admitted that it had been poor judgment to drive while distracted.

Aggressive drivers, or those who admitted to driving unsafely when another driver angered them, were more remorseful. Forty-seven percent chalked up the behavior to poor judgment. However, one in four respondents said they drove aggressively because they wanted to teach the other driver a lesson. Sixteen percent said they wanted to get even, and 12 percent said they sought to intimidate the other driver.

Respondents who drove while under the influence of alcohol or drugs were also likely to blame poor judgment, with 32 percent giving this reason. Twenty-nine percent said they considered that they could safely drive under the influence.

Other respondents said they drove while intoxicated because it was more convenient for them. Twenty percent said driving in this manner was the only way to get to their destination, while 12 percent said it was the cheapest way and 8 percent said it was the fastest way.

Respondents frequently said they had not been confronted about their dangerous driving habits. Half of those who drove aggressively said someone else had challenged them on their behavior, along with 48 percent of rushed drivers and 41 percent of distracted drivers. Those who drove while intoxicated were least likely to be confronted, with just 37 percent saying someone had called them out on their behavior.

However, intoxicated drivers were also the most likely to say that they had tried to change their behavior. Three-quarters of these respondents said they had improved their driving habits, while 17 percent said they had tried but failed to stop driving while intoxicated. Only 8 percent said they hadn't made an effort to improve their behavior.

Sixty-four percent of both aggressive drivers and rushed drivers said they had tried to change their behavior and improved. In both categories, 16 percent said they had tried but hadn't been able to change their behavior, and 20 percent said they had not tried to improve their driving habits.

Distracted drivers were less successful, although 58 percent said they had made an effort and improved their behavior. Twenty-two percent said they hadn't tried, and 20 percent said they had tried to give up distracting behaviors and been unable to.

Most drivers said they were responsible for their own driving behavior, with 65 percent saying their personality shaped their driving habits. Twenty-two percent said they had modeled their driving habits on those of their parents or family members, and 13 percent said the driving habits of their friends had been a key influence.

Envista Forensics also found that there were some common trends based on gender, age, and region. Women were more likely to be remorseful about dangerous driving habits and say they had used poor judgment. They were also more likely to be confronted about rushed driving and to be successful in changing their driving habits.

Men were more likely to be overconfident in their driving abilities, and to be confronted about driving aggressively, while distracted, or while intoxicated. Men were also more likely to try and fail to change their driving habits.

Millennials were five times more likely than Generation Xers or baby boomers to say they thought they could safely multitask while driving. They were also more likely to say their driving habits had been shaped by their parents or family members, and one in four said they had tried and failed to give up dangerous driving behavior.

Baby boomers were more likely to say their personality shaped their driving habits, and—along with Generation Xers—they were more successful in changing their behavior. However, baby boomers were also the most likely generation to say they thought they could drive safely while intoxicated.

Drivers in the Northeast and West were most likely to be rushed, with those in the Northeast saying they didn't want to look bad by arriving late to work or an appointment and those in the West saying they were generally impatient. Midwestern and Southeastern drivers were more likely to be distracted.