Number of people killed in road rage incidents hits record high: Urgent warning after at least two people a week died during rows on the road

Shocking new figures show that 143 people were killed last year in the UK as a result of road rage incidents.


Shocking new figures show that 143 people were killed last year in the UK as a result of road rage incidents.

A record number of people died in accidents that were triggered by aggressive driving.

The government figures show that last year there were 2,722 collisions where aggressive driving behaviour contributed which led to a total of 4,084 casualties.

The 143 killed included 17 pedestrians, six cyclists, 34 motorcyclists, 79 people in cars and seven in lorries or other vehicles.

AAs Jack Cousens told The Sun: Remaining calm and in control is incredibly important to reduce these avoidable fatalities.

Mister Autos 2019 Driving Cities Index named and shamed the cities with the worst road rage (stock image)

Mister Autos 2019 Driving Cities Index named and shamed the cities with the worst road rage (stock image) 

The RAC estimated that 19.2 million leisure trips by car will be made between Friday and Monday, spelling heavy traffic for drivers throughout the weekend

The RAC estimated that 19.2 million leisure trips by car will be made between Friday and Monday, spelling heavy traffic for drivers throughout the weekend

The AA is calling for graduated licenses to prevent motorists under the age of 21 from carrying passengers of a similar age for six months after passing their test.

Also, the motoring organisation wants drivers aged under 21 to be given six penalty points for not wearing a seatbelt in the same period.

Scientists from the University of Warwick have identified some of the most common behaviours of aggressive drivers.

In the past, studies have shown that road rage affects women more than men and that females are far more likely to lose their cool behind the wheel.

The researchers suggested that women have an instinctive early warning system which dates back to our early female ancestors who had a sense of danger from threats.

Another study found that the worst motorists drive on Tuesdays in September, between six and nine in the morning.

For their study, published in Accident Analysis and Prevention, the researchers analysed the results of 34 published studies on road rage.

They defined a driver as aggressive when they conducted behaviours that intentionally endangered others, either psychologically, physically or both.

Aggressive drivers have a 3.3 mph (5.3 kph) mean faster speed than non-aggressive drivers and they also exhibit 2.5 times more mistakes.

Errors included not indicating when changing lanes, collisions, violation of stop signs and exceeding speed limits.

The researchers say that drivers may speed up as a way of eliminating their frustration when encountering, for example, traffic or a slow driver.

The anger they feel or express, like through shouting, may also serve as a distraction from driving and lead to more errors.

Источник: Daily Online

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