Britain’s motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are facing aggression on the roads, with more than 50 per cent admitting they have felt intimidated.
The survey, by Auto Trader, found that 53 per cent felt intimidated with 47 per cent facing aggression, 45 per cent being shouted at and 41 per cent being sworn at or insulted.
A new campaign, #SwearToChange, has been launched in response to the worrying findings, with the aim of sparking a constructive debate on road equality, ensuring all road users are accepted as equals.
Auto Trader’s Audience and Brand Director, Lei Sorvisto, said: “Despite Britain’s infrastructure and highway code changing, our research shows that attitudes on ‘who owns the road’ aren’t changing at the same pace.
“It also reveals there is much fear and intimidation on our roads, but we can all play a part in helping to eradicate it, by acknowledging the responsibility we have for motorists and other road users.”
While road safety generally relates to driving sensibly, the survey may add an additional meaning to road safety with 18 per cent of road users being threatened physically and an alarming one in ten admitting to coming to blows.
The news comes less than a year after a similar survey revealed the top ten things which give us road rage, Accident Advice Helpline’s poll found that number one on the list was someone cutting you up. But with a long list of reasons, perhaps the #SweatToChange campaign is timely.
THE TOP 10 THINGS THAT GIVE US ROAD RAGE
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Someone cutting you up
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People who tailgate you and flash lights on the motorway to get you to move over
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Seeing someone on their mobile when driving
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Someone not indicating when turning left or right
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Someone not indicating when changing lanes
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Someone not indicating when using a roundabout
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People who sit in the middle lane on the motorway
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Someone parking over two bays in a car park
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People who slam on their brakes at the last minute to change lanes
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Someone parking in a disabled bay when they aren’t disabled