The Top Annoying Driving Behaviors That Could Lead to Road Rage
According to the Expedia.com® 2014 Road Rage Report, a survey of 1,001 adult Americans answered that texting while driving is the most aggravating driving behavior.
Following distracted driving (rated one of the top five “most aggravating” by 69% of Americans) are the following other top aggravators answered as one of their top five aggravators:
“The Tailgater” (60%)
“The Multi-tasker” (54%)
“The Drifter” (43%)
“The Crawler” (39%)
About 7 in 10 Americans (69%) report having been “flipped off” by another motorist, while only 17% have admitted administering the hand gesture.
The following rank indicates the results for the complete list of “most annoying or offensive” behaviors with the percentage indicating the ratio of those questioned that placed the particular annoying or offensive behavior in their top five.
The Texter (drivers who text, email or talk on a phone while driving): 69%
The Tailgater (drivers who follow others far too closely): 60%
The Multi-tasker (applying makeup, eating, reading, etc.): 54%
The Drifter (either straddling two lanes or weaving between them): 43%
The Crawler (driving well below the speed limit): 39%
The Swerver (failing to signal before changing lanes or turning): 38%
The Left-Lane Hog (drivers who occupy the passing lane without moving): 32%
The Inconsiderate (those who do not let others merge): 30%
The Speeder (driving well past the speed limit at length): 27%
The Honker (drivers who slam the horn at will): 18%
The Unappreciative (drivers who do not give a wave or gesture of thanks): 13%
The Red Light Racer (drivers who inch ever closer to the light when red): 12%
Expect more cars for Memorial Day traffic. The peak times will be btwn 1P & 6P, daily. @cbschicago @BartShore pic.twitter.com/3j0DqCrLHx
— derrick cbs2 traffic (@derrickcbs2) May 23, 2014
Here are a few added annoying behaviors, or behaviors that compound the above annoying factors — good to know to be prepared to take a deep breath and not react with road rage.
Not proceeding when the light turns green because driver was texting.
Red light runners that proceed on a stale yellow (often at high, reckless speeds), especially when an oncoming vehicle is waiting and yielding the oncoming car, also with a yellow light about to turn read.
Cutting off pedestrian(s) to park in a parking space in a parking lot — any kind of a turn that causes the pedestrian to stop to avoid being run over.
Driver comes around a turn in a parking lot to find a motorist already backing out, but honks or drives aggressively to prevent the motorist from backing out.
Similar to above, except driver in lane in a parking lot finds a motorist already backing out slowly next to a full-size van that obstructs visibility, but honks or drives aggressively to prevent the motorist from backing out.
Driver honks horn at driver who has stopped for emergency vehicle when first emergency vehicle passes because they don’t realize a second emergency vehicle is following the first emergency vehicle (usually associated with loud music that prevents siren from being heard).
Motorcycle recklessness (wheelies, weaving, riding between lanes, riding on the shoulder).
Motorcycle mob or gang behavior (group tailgating, group gestures or other antagonizing of other motorists)
Failure to dim bright lights.
Pulling out into traffic in front of the last car in traffic, risking a crash, or causing the last car to brake to yield — the driver could have waited another 3 to 5 seconds and had all the time they needed to pull into traffic safely.
Pulling out in front of a vehicle in traffic as if in a hurry, only to drive slowly once in traffic.
Driving with kids with no secured car seats.
One driver is facing prison time after allegedly firing at someone police say may have cut him off.
Psychologist Robert Nemerovski has studied road rage after his own personal experience when involved in a road rage incident. He believes drivers begin to believe they own the space in front of them. He recommends keeping your driving space calm, such as listening to calm music instead of outrageous talk radio. When something happens? FIDO … Forget It, Drive On.
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