Bicycle Network: Behaviour

Road rage rises

8 September 2009. Aggression on the road is getting worse, according to a new report on driver attitude and behaviours.

Although not news to bike riders, the report by insurer AAMI confirms that drivers have become increasingly aggressive and a staggering 22 per cent have resorted to risky manoeuvres to vent their anger.

Of the victims 29 per cent of drivers have been followed, 12 per cent have been forced off the road, 14 per cent have had their car wilfully damaged and two per cent have been physically assaulted.

Unfortunately AAMI's research found that most drivers believed their aggression and road rage was acceptable behaviour.

Most drivers (88 per cent) blamed traffic congestion for their road rage.

Bike riders are increasingly subject to such rage, although they make the roads less congested for drivers. Bike infrastructure is a highly cost-effective solution to road congestion, a fact only beginning to be recognised by local councils and governments.

Red the full report.

Road rage a dead end

2008. Drivers who curse, horn-blast and aggressively gesticulate at fellow road users agree they don’t feel better for it, the NRMA has discovered.

A survey found 80 per cent of Australian drivers who admitted venting also confessed their boilovers were pointless.

And one in seven said giving way to road rage made them feel more stressed.

NRMA Insurance spokesman Stephen Beatty said the research demonstrated the need for drivers to stay calm on the road and think twice before honking or swearing.

Drivers put themselves more at risk with higher stress levels as a result of their anger, he said.

"Honking horns, flashing lights and angry gestures could also distract other drivers, creating more risk and angst on the road."

 Bicycle Network Victoria members and friends certainly know what Mr. Beatty is talking about. Sure, we have all copped groundless abuse, but responding in kind is just pointless, and can make things worse.

We want the experience of road use to be stress-free for everybody; revving up the angry pilot of a multiple-wheeler certainly does not help.

Staying calm, cool and collected is a win you and all your fellow bike riders.