Road Rage Epidemic: MOST Brits have been victims of road rage in the past year
Road Rage Epidemic: MOST Brits have been victims of road rage in the past year
With no official figures for ‘road rage’ recorded, new research shows the staggering scale of anger on British roads
Over a quarter of British drivers have experienced road rage from others in the past month alone - leading to confrontations and motorists even being forced off the road
Only 11% of victims have ever reported road rage to the police
Gen Z bear the brunt of aggressive driving, with 8 in 10 falling victim to road rage in the past year
18th September: Most British drivers (63%) have been the victims of road rage in the past year, with over a quarter (27%) experiencing it in the past month alone, according to new research.
Despite the dangers, there is no explicit criminal offence for ‘road rage’ - characterised as aggressive or dangerous behaviour which makes someone else feel threatened, intimidated, or unsafe while driving.
However, the research from Halfords reveals the worrying scale of the issue. Young drivers - who will on the whole be less experienced and more likely to make mistakes or take their time on the road - experience it the most. More than 8 in 10 (82%) have been victims of it in the past year and 38% have in just the past month.
The worst offenders
Tailgating - where someone drives dangerously close to the rear of a car - emerged as the most widespread form of road rage, highlighted by almost half of road rage victims (48%). This was followed by dangerous overtaking (47%) and 43% report experiencing shouting, swearing and threatening gestures.
For some it went further - 16% report being brake-checked (where someone in front slams on their brakes intentionally) and 10% have been followed or chased. A further one in ten (10%) report someone getting out of their vehicle to confront them and a similar number (8%) say someone has even attempted to force them off the road.
The top 10 forms of road rage experienced:
Tailgating/driving too closely (48%)
Dangerous overtaking (47%)
Shouting, swearing or threatening gestures (43%)
Being cut off (33%)
Flashing headlights (33%)
Excessive use of the horn (29%)
Brake-checking (16%)
Being followed or chased (10%)
Getting out of their vehicle to confront someone (10%)
Being forced off the road (8%)
But despite this, the study of 2,000 motorists showed that 89% of road rage victims have never reported an incident to the police, with the most common reasons being they didn't think the police would be able to do anything (40%).
A quarter of victims (25%) cited not having enough evidence to report an instance of road rage, but 7 in 10 (70%) agreed having dashcam footage could make them more likely to report an incident to the police.
Sheffield was found to be the worst city in the UK for road rage incidents currently - 39% of motorists in the city have experienced it in the past 12 months. It is followed by Liverpool (37%), Leeds (36%) and Southampton (35%).*
Halfords’ spokesperson Andy Turbefield said “The figures are a real wake up call to the scale of the issue. As there is no specific criminal offence for road rage, and most incidents go unreported, these new figures lay bare just how common it is on our roads.
“However, offences that we would classify as road rage are often prosecutable - especially if they involve dangerous driving or physical confrontation. The best advice is to stay calm and remain in your vehicle.
“If someone is approaching your car, ensure your door is locked. And most importantly - get a dash cam. What many don’t understand is that not only do they give you evidence if you are a victim, but they are preventative. The presence of a dashcam can cool a situation very quickly given people know they are being recorded.”
As well as a wide range of the latest dashcams, Halfords also offers a professional dashcam fitting service. Learn more here.
Ends
Notes to Editors
Halfords’s data: Mortar Research: Survey of 2,000 UK motorists commissioned by Halfords from 4th September to 7th September
*based on cities with at least 50 respondents
For media enquiries, product samples, or imagery, please contact: halfords@vccproar.com
Drivers looking to report dangerous motorists can purchase the Nextbase 320XR Front And Rear Camera Bundle, which is ideal for all round protection and can be used as an independent witness for any driving situation, from road rage to road collisions.
About Halfords
Halfords is the UK's leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services. Customers shop at 404 Halfords stores, 3 Performance Cycling stores (trading as Tredz and Giant), 604 garages (trading as Halfords Autocentres, McConechy's and National) and have access to more than 200 mobile service vans. Customers can also shop at halfords.com and tredz.co.uk for pick up at their local store or direct home delivery, as well as booking garage services online at halfords.com.