Road Rage Nation New research reveals nearly half of UK drivers experience road rage, with over a third admitting they drive more aggressively because of it. The UK's roads are witness to increasingly inconsiderate and aggressive drivers, as offensive gestures, full blown arguments and even threats of physical violence are revealed as the norm for many UK drivers. That's according to a new research commissioned by Admiral which reveals what most makes the country's motorists tick. Whilst research suggests that the most common manifestations of road rage on UK roads are limited to shouting obscenities, making offensive gestures, or having "having full-blown arguments" with other drivers, an alarming amount of the drivers questioned said their behaviour took a more serious turn, with 35% of them admitting that experiencing road rage makes them drive more aggressively. Almost one in ten who suffer from road rage said they followed the other driver after the incident and, more worryingly, 9% of all those surveyed said they'd been threatened with physical violence. Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said: "Safe driving requires concentration, observation and anticipation as well as a responsible attitude to other road users. This is often easier said than done, as our driving can be affected by our mood, our reaction to the behaviour of other people and frustration caused by traffic delays. "Unfortunately, this can result in some drivers getting angry and stressed and taking this out on other people by tailgating, exceeding speed limits, undertaking, and generally driving aggressively. This sort of driving increases the chances of the angry driver causing an accident, which in the worst cases can mean people losing their lives. "In 2011, 122 people were killed, and almost 1,000 seriously injured, in accidents involving aggressive driving. 13 people were killed and over 500 seriously injured in accidents involving a driver "following too close"' Website: www.admiral.com/surveyofmotorists

• published: 16 Jul 2013
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