Road Rage in the UK

What is road rage?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, road rage can be defined as the sudden violent anger provoked in a driver due to the actions of another road user. The term covers a wide range of behaviours, some that could be more dangerous than others, including making rude gestures, driving aggressively, or getting distracted behind the wheel.

If you often find yourself seeing red when you get behind the wheel, you’re not alone. In fact, road rage is extremely common. A recent survey by Compare the Market found that 62% of drivers experience road rage and almost a third (30%) have had a face-to-face confrontation with another driver. These are rarely one-off instances either, data from BigChange shows that 20% of UK drivers experience road rage at least once a week.

You might not think that too much harm could come from honking your horn at the slow-moving car in front or skipping a traffic jam by cutting into a lane late, but road rage can have serious consequences. 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving and Highways England report that 12.5% of all casualties on England’s major routes are caused by tailgating.

That’s why it’s even more worrying that road rage is on the rise. Road rage UK crimes rose by 39% between 2017 and 2019 according to police force data.

What does the law say about road rage?

While the term road rage UK doesn’t appear in the Highway Code and losing your temper while driving isn’t technically an offence, it can lead to criminal activity. And most drivers say that they’d support a change in legislation; 75% believe road rage should be recognised as an offence in UK law.

Rule 147 of the Highway Code does remind drivers to be considerate of other road users. It states that you should “not allow yourself to become agitated or involved if someone is behaving badly on the road. This will only make a situation worse. Pull over, calm down, and when you feel relaxed, continue your journey.”

Dangerous or careless driving habits could also lead to you ending up on the wrong side of the law. Not being in full control of your vehicle - taking your hands off the steering wheel to use your phone or make a gesture for example - could be an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1991. The penalty for breaching this Act is a hefty £1000 fine and three penalty points on your licence.

Section 59 of the Police Reform Act also warns against driving in a way that could cause another motorist “alarm, distress, or annoyance.” Under the Act, the police have the power to seize your vehicle if you’re found to be breaking this rule.

And that’s not all; you could also face a £30 fine for using your horn without good reason!

What causes road rage?

There are a whole host of things that can cause road rage in drivers. The most common source of rage is tailgating, closely followed by slow driving, drivers using their mobile phones, and not indicating. Perhaps surprisingly, getting stuck behind a learner driver has been rated the least common source of road rage.

Other causes of road rage include:

• Delays caused by roadworks
• Traffic jams
• Honking the horn or flashing headlights
• Yelling or being verbally aggressive
• Rude gestures
• Cyclists
• Cutting a vehicle off in a lane after overtaking
• Changing lanes without indicating
• Stopping you from merging into traffic
• Driving too fast
• Hogging the middle lane

Using a mobile phone while driving not only annoys other road users but it’s also one of the most common bad habits that motorists will admit to committing. Men are the biggest culprits; a survey by 1^st Central found that 27% of male drivers use their phone when driving compared to 13% of female drivers. 2% of people said that they find it difficult to drive at all without checking their phone and 4% of younger drivers like taking selfies while they drive!

When we’re faced with an act of aggression on the roads, it’s all too easy to escalate the situation and make it worse. Most people admit that their first reaction would be to beep their horn (44%) while 40% would shout from inside their car. More worryingly, 6% of people say that they’d damage another driver’s vehicle in response to careless or dangerous driving and almost 1 in 10 would leave their car to confront the other person.

But why do we experience road rage in the first place? According to neuro-linguistic expert Rebecca Lockwood, some of that anger might be inherited. If we grew up watching our parents lose their rage behind the wheel, then we’re more likely to copy that behaviour when we move into the driver’s seat. Stress in other parts of our lives can also reduce our capacity for patience and make it easier to get angry.

There’s also something special about being in a car, we can feel like we’re in our own private bubble, slightly removed from the rest of the world. That distance could make us more likely to feel detached from other drivers and less self-conscious about getting angry that we might in other social situations.

Where in the UK is road rage most common?

While road rage incidents happen across the UK, Compare the Market found that drivers in Belfast feel the most anger on the road. 76% of the city’s drivers reported experiencing road rage, closely followed by drivers in Sheffield (68%), Birmingham (66%), and Nottingham (66%).

The bad driving habits that provoke the most rage varies by region too. Drivers in Belfast, Brighton, Bristol, and Cardiff report the highest levels of anger caused by slow drivers while in Leeds, it’s a lack of indication that really makes people’s blood boil. Drivers in Manchester are more likely to get mad when they witness other drivers using their phones.

Driving in crowded cities can be challenging for even the most experienced drivers, so it’s unsurprising that town centres cause the most frustration for road users. Congested city traffic can also get drivers hot under the collar, while motorways are the third most anger-inducing type of road in the UK.

How can I avoid becoming a victim of road rage?

When you’re faced with sudden aggression from another driver, it can be tough to know how to react. It’s important to remember that you don’t know this person and you can’t be sure how they’ll act. Be cautious and try to take action that will deescalate the situation to keep yourself safe.

Steps that you can take to protect yourself from road rage include:

• Keep all your car doors locked and only partially open windows
• Avoid provoking other drivers unnecessarily through eye contact, gestures, or flashing your lights
• Don’t leave your car to have a go at another driver
• Avoid tailgating

If someone does start following you, it’s best to drive straight to the nearest police station or at least stick to busy public spaces until they’re gone.

How can I control my road rage?

Keeping calm in the face of dangerous or just plain bad driving can be difficult. But there are a few things you can do to maintain composure no matter what you run into on the road:

Plan ahead

There are few things more stressful that getting lost or ending up stuck in the wrong lane at an unfamiliar junction. Taking time to plan can help you feel more in control of your journey and make it easier to cope when unexpected incidents pop up.

Avoid distractions

Just like planning ahead, it’s hard to react quickly when you’re distracted by the music blasting from your stereo or the kids screaming in the back seat. Some distractions (like your kids) can’t be helped but if you can turn down the radio and give yourself space to concentrate on the road, you’ll be more prepared to deal with bad drivers.

Get enough sleep

Tired drivers are dangerous drivers. Make sure you get enough sleep, so you feel rested and alert when getting behind the wheel. If you’re driving a long-distance, schedule breaks or swap driving duties if you’re travelling with someone else. The less tired you are, the more patience you’ll probably have too.

Remember it’s not a competition

Keep in mind that you’re not taking on a race every time you leave your house; a driver getting ahead of you will likely only shave seconds off their journey time. After all, how many times has another car raced past you only to end up just one vehicle ahead at the next set of lights? Take your time and resist indulging your competitive streak. 

Install a dash cam

Installing a dash cam to record your surroundings – and the actions of other drivers – could act as a deterrent to those who might otherwise take unnecessary risks on the road. And if the worst does happen and you end up in an accident, you’ll have evidence that proves you were acting responsibly and not at fault.

Take a deep breath

We know that ‘calm down’ is one of the most aggravating phrases to hear when you feel anger rising but, if you can, pausing and taking a deep breath could help you observe your emotions and adjust your reaction.

If you’re really struggling to keep your road rage under control, some advanced driving courses in the UK offer modules on minimising anger and there are entire courses dedicated to reducing road rage available.

Would more traffic police help reduce road rage in the UK?

Traffic police might not be as visible on UK roads these days, but would their presence really make a difference to the levels of rage displayed by drivers? Possibly. When the AA polled their members, they found that 65% of people believe the lack of traffic police makes drivers think they can get away with common driving offences. The same number felt that there’s no visible police presence on local roads and 43% weren’t aware of any police patrolling motorways.

While we can’t be certain of the effect more visible police officers would have on drivers’ behaviour, it is true that their numbers are falling. The Press Association reported that the number of traffic police fell by more than a third, from 3766 to 2643, between 2007 and 2017. 

How can I get a good rate for my car finance?

Does the thought of missing out on a great deal get you angry? If you’re looking for cheap loans for car purchase, using a finance broker could help! At CarFinance 247, we work with a panel of lenders, which means we can look to find loans for people with a variety of circumstances. The current car finance rates that you’re offered will depend on a few different factors including the type of car finance, your credit history, the amount you’d like to borrow, and the vehicle you’re hoping to buy.

How does car finance work?

Car finance doesn’t have to complicated. With us, you don’t need to spend hours trying to figure out how do I apply for car finance? Complete our online application form and you’ll receive a decision in minutes! If we can find you an approval in principle from one of the lenders on our panel, we’ll give you a call to talk through your options. Your dedicated account manager is on hand to guide you through the process, explain the current car finance rates, and help you find a car.

How much should I borrow to buy a car on finance?

When you start searching for a new car, how much should I finance on a car is one of the most frequently asked questions. Unfortunately, there’s no one answer. It all depends on you; how much you can afford to spend each month, what type of car you need, and how much deposit you have saved.

You should never borrow more than you can comfortably afford; affordability checks are in place to make sure that you’ll be able to cover all your essential bills and still have enough money left over for your monthly repayments.

The same applies when it comes to your deposit. No deposit car loans are available but putting down a lump sum upfront could reduce the amount you need to borrow, reduce your monthly payments or loan term, and make it easier to secure a loan if you have a poor credit history.