Nearly three in four Glaswegians victim of road rage, new survey finds

Jul 4 2012 By Tristan Stewart-Robertson

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ROAD rage drivers are spreading fear across the streets of Glasgow, a survey has found.

Nearly three in four motorists have been a victim in the last 12 months.

And BMW drivers are the worst offenders, the poll claimed.

The figures also showed that 85 per cent of drivers admitted giving in to road rage.

Glaswegians said they are most likely to get angry because of ­tailgating, another driver’s failure to indicate and catching them usinga phone.

Elderly drivers were most likely to cause road rage, followed by van ­drivers, then taxi drivers.

A total of 41 per cent of Glasgow drivers also said the drivers of BMWs incited more road rage than those at the wheel of any other marque.

The survey of 4000 UK motorists came as a campaign to reduce the anger on the roads was launched.

Dr Lisa Dorn, a traffic psychologist at Cranfield University, said: “Road rage is not new, but it is a growing ­problem.

“It has been defined as antisocial and angry behaviour exhibited when driving, often due to stress, poor ­attitudes and personality factors.

“If road rage strikes it’s important not to forget how it can affect your driving – and the safety of yourself, your passengers and other road ­users.”

Richard King, head of insurance firm ingenie, who are running an awareness campaign against road rage, added: “It would be great if we always had the road to ourselves, but in reality driving is a shared ­experience and can be stressful.

“If the red mist should descend, remember the potential impact it could have on those around you.”

Planning a journey was the top technique to keep drivers calm, with country roads being ranked the least likely to cause road rage.