Failing to indicate is the most common cause of road rage in the UK

• Failing to indicate is the most common cause of road rage in the UK, according to over a quarter (26.9%) of drivers

• Over four in five UK drivers (83.8%) risk being fined for their road rage behaviour

• Motor expert advises drivers on how to de-escalate anger while behind the wheel

A survey from the car insurance team at Compare the Market found that over two in three (69.5%) drivers in the UK experience road rage, with more than one in 10 (12%) admitting it’s a weekly occurrence.

Following this, the research reveals the most common sources of driver frustration, which UK cities are most prone to road rage, and the startling number of motorists who may be at risk of being fined for their road rage responses.

You can find the full research here: https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/news/angry-motorists/

Failing to indicate is the most common cause of road rage in the UK, according to over a quarter (26.9%) of drivers

The most common cause of road rage is when other drivers do not indicate (26.9%), followed by tailgating (26.6%), being cut off (21.6%), and slow driving (17.3%).

Among younger drivers (aged 17 to 24), slow driving is the number one source of road rage (27.6%). Whereas older motorists, are more likely to blame tailgating, with over a third (34.5%) of drivers aged 55+ and 30.1% of those aged 45 to 54 agreeing on this.

London is the road rage capital of the UK, with over three-quarters (75.9%) of drivers getting angry behind the wheel

Over three-quarters (75.9%) of drivers in London admit to experiencing road rage, making the UK capital the country’s number one road rage hotspot. This is followed by Nottingham (75.5%), Sheffield (73.3%) and Cardiff (73.1%).

Meanwhile, northern cities Newcastle (52.8%) and Liverpool (59.2%) have the lowest rates of road rage in the country.

Over four in five UK drivers (83.8%) risk being fined for how they behave during road rage

Four in five drivers (83.8%) surveyed aren’t aware they can be fined for shouting out of their window, which violates rule 147 of the Highway Code. If caught, this angry behaviour could result in an unlimited fine and three to nine penalty points.

Another 75.5% of drivers risk being fined for honking at another driver during a bout of road rage, as it goes against rule 112 of the Highway Code, which warns the horn should never be sounded aggressively. Violating this rule could earn you a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £1,000.

Just under half (47.9%) of drivers also mistakenly believe they can’t be fined for tailgating another road user. This violates rule 126 of the Highway Code, and can lead to a £100 fine and three penalty points for driving without due care and attention.

Julie Daniels at Compare the Market advises drivers on how to de-escalate anger while behind the wheel:

“To reduce road rage and drive safely, it’s vital to give the road your full attention to avoid any sudden surprises. Things like glaring lights and radios can be very distracting, so make sure you are paying full attention and be vigilant of other drivers. Additionally, being well-rested is essential to avoid irritability and distraction and that’s why it is important to take breaks, particularly on long drives.

Remember that even if you are completely switched on at the wheel, other drivers might not be. Be sure to remain present and if an incident where you might want to react occurs, take a moment to remember, that no driver is perfect — being forgiving and letting go of frustrations towards other road users is the key to safer driving.”