Road rage blamed for one in five crashes by frustrated drivers

Road rage is getting the better of Australians with one in five drivers admitting their frustration has caused a car crash. TELL US: WHAT ANNOYS YOU ON THE ROADS?

• Fatal Snapchat driver ‘high and drunk’
• Wool dynasty patriarch killed in horror crash

Road rage is driving Australians crazy with one in five motorists admitting their frustration has caused a car crash.

Whether it’s because of tailgating, confusing indicating or the blinding use of high beams, new research shows almost half of the nation is reluctant to navigate rush hour purely due to the stress.

Banking group ING commissioned the survey ahead of its launch into the car insurance market.

“We’ve all been there — trying to merge but no one lets you in, can’t open your car door because another car has parked too close,” ING head of wealth Cathy Duncan said.

“It’s these little things that frustrate us and can cause our judgment and decision-making to be impaired by stress.”

According to the survey conducted last month, tailgating topped the list for the most infuriating driver behaviour followed by changing lanes without indicating and selfish parking.

While a cocky 97 per cent of drivers rated themselves as safe drivers, 15 per cent admitted they’d probably flunk a driving test if they were forced to sit it again.

One in five motorists admit their frustration behind the wheel has caused a car crash.

MORE FROM AVA BENNY-MORRISON

Man jailed for tasering younger sister as punishment

‘Masculine’ force stopping cop mums getting top jobs

While 20 per cent said their stress had led to a crash, women were more likely to keep cool under pressure, the research showed.

And it’s not just other drivers or road users getting motorists hot under the collar, with 36 per cent each blaming screaming kids and arguments with drivers as being a distraction, while 34 per cent said “back seat drivers” were a cause of their stress.

When it comes to the battle of the sexes, 78 per cent of men rated themselves as “better drivers than most people”, compared to 63 per cent of women, while 15 per cent of men adnitted they are more likely to try and race another driver at the lights (compared to 6 per cent of women).

ING today launches its “Aussie Road Etiquette Guide” to avoiding an emotion-fuelled accident.

Tips for steering clear of crashes and insurance claims include: your blinker is your best mate, no one likes a back seat driver and park as if you’re passing your P-plate test.

Originally published as Road rage blamed for one in five crashes by frustrated drivers