UK drivers becoming more aggressive

DRIVERS in the UK are becoming more aggressive, with 61% saying they use their car’s horn at least once a month.

They are using the horn in anger at other drivers rather than its proper purpose of warning other drivers of your presence.

A study by Flexed shows drivers are also using more anti-social tactics than before, with 33% of drivers admitting to changing lanes multiple times in traffic jams to try to get further ahead.

Other bad driving behaviour that is on the rise includes pushing into traffic at road junctions, jumping traffic lights, driving in cycle lanes and the hard shoulder, and using the wrong lane to then push in front of a queue of cars.

As well as this sort of bad driving, 18% of drivers say they never let other drivers out of a side road in a traffic jam. Drivers also report that other road users not moving with the flow of traffic and motorcyclists filtering through traffic queues are a source of annoyance.

A police spokesman said: ‘Poor driving causes accidents and could also lead to prosecution. All drivers should be courteous, patient and considerate with others, especially more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.’

By Press Association reporters