Motorway manners fuel road rage

British motorway drivers are at boiling point with a quarter experiencing road rage in the past 12 months, thanks to a lack of manners from other drivers, according to Direct Line.

44% of all British motorway users admit to getting so infuriated they respond to aggressive* drivers, with many reacting deliberately to annoy other road users.

The research reveals that the biggest cause of motorway rage is motorists who tailgate the vehicle in front (52 per cent of those who have experienced motorway rage in the last year) followed by motorists who pull into other people’s braking-gaps (35 per cent) and lane-hogs who refuse to move over (32 per cent) regardless of speed.
  
Speeding on motorways is also the norm for the majority of British motorway drivers with nearly nine out of ten (84 per cent) saying they ignore the 70mph limit – causing the average speed on a motorway’s fast lane to be an estimated 87mph**.

Failing to switch lanes is a bad habit committed by one in 10 (eight per cent) motorway drivers who admit they intentionally stay in one lane because it’s easier (42 per cent) and they consider it safer (32 per cent).

However lane-hogging is a frustrating habit for close to seven in 10 (68 per cent) motorway drivers who say it’s one of their biggest gripes.  Close to one in five (23 per cent) admit they dangerously undertake a lane hog if they can’t get past.

Tailgaters are also responsible for causing four in 10 (44 per cent) motorists to react. Close to one in four (24 per cent) will deliberately slow down if somebody is driving too close and one in 10 (11 per cent) will deliberately brake suddenly to warn the driver to back off.
    
Emma Holyer, Direct Line’s Motor spokesperson, said:

“With the average speed on the fast lane nearing 90mph – tailgating and braking suddenly is extremely dangerous especially when drivers are travelling at such high speeds.  It is frustrating when other road-users are driving badly but reacting aggressively and driving badly only makes it worse.

“Over two million drivers have been involved in a motorway accident and over 14 million motorists have experienced motorway rage.  If all drivers make a conscious effort to drive considerately on motorways it will help to reduce the number of accidents and road rage incidences.”

For more information, log on to www.directline.com.

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Emma Holyer, Direct Line Press Office
0208 256 2182 / 07725 944910
Email: emma.holyer@directline.com

Notes to Editors:

The research was carried out on behalf of Direct Line car insurance by YouGov. A nationally representative sample of 2,370 GB adults were questioned online between 31st to 3rd April 2006.  Results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population.  YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council.
*44 per cent of drivers respond to aggressive drivers such as tailgaters.
**According to the YouGov findings drivers think the average speed on a motorway’s fast lane is 87mph.

NATIONAL DATA

TOP CAUSES OF M ROAD RAGE IN THE PAST YEAR

Somebody tailgating by vehicle (52 per cent)
Someone pulling into my braking distance gap (35 per cent)
A lane hogger (32 per cent)
A motorist failing to indicate (31 per cent)
A slow driver (23 per cent)
A swooper i.e. a motorist who zig-zags (22 per cent)
A motorist who undertook me on the inside (20 per cent)
Somebody suddenly braking (15 per cent)
Speeding motorist (eight per cent)