Truck and van drivers are used to dealing with the ever-increasing pressures of driving on UK roads. But one habit among a rising number of car drivers – road rage – is one they could well do without.
Just about everyone who drives a commercial vehicle for a living will quote instances where they have been abused by car drivers. But a new survey has revealed just how bad things have become.
In fact, according to the survey by road safety tech brand Ooono, road rage has become a defining feature of UK driving culture, with almost half of drivers (47%) saying they have experienced it.
Common triggers include lack of sleep, work-related stress, cost-of-living pressures and family/relationship issues. One in six (15%) drivers say it happens often, while almost a third (31%) experience it occasionally – suggesting road rage is now the norm rather than the exception on Britain’s roads.
The research was conducted among more than 2,000 UK drivers and highlights the emotional toll of modern driving as well as modern life. More than one in ten (12%) say they feel stressed, anxious or emotionally overwhelmed every single day while driving and 40% say they feel this several times a week or more.
Sean Morris, Ooono’s UK chief operating officer, said: “Driving has become one of the main pressure points of modern life. By the time people get into the car, they’re often already carrying stress from work, family or financial worries. The road is where that pressure comes out – and unfortunately, it’s coming out as anger.”
The findings also reveal a clear gender split. More than half of men (51%) say they have experienced road rage, compared with 42% of women. Men are also more than twice as likely to say they experience it often compared to women (22% vs 9%).
Moreover, the research results show that drivers aged 35-44 are the most likely to experience road rage on a regular basis, with 29% reporting frequent incidents. This compares with 21% of drivers aged 18-34, 6% of those aged 45-54 and just 4% of drivers aged 65-74.
