Sports car owners are the worst drivers in Australia and the rudest to other road users, edging out SUV drivers, vans and utes in a new survey of driver behaviour.

People behind the wheel of a sports car tied with SUV drivers for the worst road behaviour in a survey of 1000 road users commissioned by Tom Tom Telematics, which also found sports car drivers are the least polite people on the road.

Women were more likely to be offended by sports cars than men, who took more objection to how SUVs are driven.

Results varied between states.

Drivers in South Australia – where police frequently campaign against speeding cars in the Adelaide Hills – were the most likely to concerned by sports car behaviour. Queensland and Victorian motorists were most bothered by SUVs, while trucks earned the ire of NSW drivers and motorcyclists got under the skin of West Australians.

Sedan and small car drivers were generally agreed to be the best behaved and most courteous to fellow road users.

A laundry list of gripes saw drivers who forget to indicate listed as the most common complaint, followed by those who use a mobile phone behind the wheel.

Almost half of the surveyed motorists said a commercial driver had put them into a dangerous position on the road this year, with three-quarters of respondents saying they were less likely to do business with a company whose employees drive recklessly.

Disturbingly, more than 10 per cent of NSW drivers who steer a company car admitted to reckless driving.