Cyclists, taxi drivers, elderly motorists and tractors are all ranked among the most irritating road users. But which group is the most annoying?
Do you ever get vexed behind the wheel ­­– cursing other drivers for not knowing the Highway Code and having a total lack of common sense? Well, new research suggests Brits are a pretty irritable bunch on the roads…
Drivers over the age of 60 are the biggest source of frustration, according to research from insurance company Admiral.
Some 41% of those surveyed claimed to be irritated by elderly motorists.
Sue Longthorn, Admiral managing director, said: ‘The reason so many people find elderly motorists irritating could be because they tend to drive more carefully and are not in such a rush compared to many other road users.’
On a regional level, people in the North East, Yorkshire, Humberside, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland find taxi drivers the most annoying road users. In London, however, van drivers are regarded as the scourge of the roads.
| Road user | Percentage who find them irritating |
| Elderly motorists | 41% |
| Taxi drivers | 37% |
| Cyclists | 36% |
| Van drivers | 34% |
| Male drivers aged 17 or 18 | 30% |
| Caravanners | 29% |
| Tractor drivers | 26% |
| 4x4 drivers | 26% |
| Lorry drivers | 21% |
| Motorcyclists | 19% |
| Bus drivers | 19% |
| Female drivers aged 17 or 18 | 14% |
| Sales reps | 9% |
Source: Admiral
Most annoying habits
As well as annoying road users, Admiral’s research also looked at the most irritating driving habits.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, tailgating is rated as the most irksome and gets on the nerves of 74% of drivers. Using mobile phones behind the wheel and not indicating are also high on the list of gripes.
| Annoyance | Percentage |
| Tailgating | 74% |
| Using mobile phones | 73% |
| Not indicating | 71% |
| Cutting up | 70% |
| Not paying attention | 57% |
| Driving too slowly | 54% |
| Not saying thank you when you give way | 50% |
| Hogging the middle lane | 49% |
| Speeding | 32% |
| Racing at traffic lights and junctions | 30% |
Source: Admiral
Dealing with arguments on the road
If you need to stop your car following an incident, drive to a spot where there are other people around. Being in a public place could reduce the risk of a violent encounter.
While it’s tempting to retaliate if another driver makes an obscene gesture or shouts, doing so will probably just exacerbate the situation.
Also, it could be wise to keep a mobile phone in your car so you can call the police in the event of a serious dispute on the roads.
Road rage and insurance
Motorists who sustain injuries or damage to their vehicle as a result of a road rage incident may find their insurance company won’t pay out.
In fact, research carried out by Defaqto back in 2010 found that 94% of UK insurers don’t offer any cover for these types of claims.
If your own aggressive behavior contributed to the incident, a number of insurance policies carry an exclusion stipulating you won’t be covered
Furthermore, you might be unable to claim if you’re involved in a road rage incident, but don’t know the identity of your assailant.
For more articles like this, check out Which professions make the worst drivers? and Will you break the law this summer?
**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**
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