"Worrying Number" Facing Road Rage

• News
• Published: 20 Apr 2009 in Motoring and Car Insurance

Research shows that three in five motorists have been victims of road rage with young men most likely to be subjected to abuse.

According to a survey by Sainsbury's Car Insurance, in the past year 69% of men aged 18-24 have been victims to road rage. The poll of 2,011 people also shows that 6% of those questioned have either been the victim of carjacking, or know someone who has been carjacked.

Drivers aged over 65 experienced the fewest incidents in the past year and were also the least likely to get aggressive behind the wheel.

The study found that tailgating was the most common way to provoke road rage, followed by poor judgment when pulling out of a junction, changing lanes without indicating and driving too slowly.

Motorists in south-west England were the most likely to be road rage victims, compared with Welsh motorists who were least likely to face aggressive drivers.

Joanne Mallon, head of Sainsbury's Car Insurance, said: "A worrying number of motorists have unfortunately suffered from road rage or carjacking and the result can be both mentally and physically scarring for the victims."