If you thought road rage was getting out of control on Queensland roads, you might be right.
Research has revealed more than a quarter of Aussies (27.5 per cent) have experienced road rage in the past 12 months.
Worse still, Queensland is leading the way as the ‘road rage capital’.
The data from a survey of 1004 Australians aged 18 and over in August/September this year by Compare the Market found Queenslanders experienced road rage the most often (32 per cent), followed by New South Wales residents (27 per cent) and then Victorians (26 per cent).
That’s news no motorist wants to hear as the weather heats up for a perfect Sunday drive or a road trip.
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Of those who had experienced road rage, more than three-quarters (77.9 per cent) stated that they were a witness to it, 17.8 per cent said that it had happened to them, while 4.3 per cent admitted that they were the perpetrators.
When comparing state against state, Queensland came out on top as the capital of road rage, with almost a third of respondents from the Sunshine State being involved in a road rage incident in the past 12 months. New South Wales wasn’t far behind Queensland, with Victoria rounding out the top three.
The research also found that the younger the driver, the more likely they would witness road rage compared with their elder counterparts.
People from Gen Z were almost twice as likely to see or experience road rage (36.5 per cent) when compared with baby boomers (19 per cent).
Compare the Market general manager of general insurance Adrian Taylor said distractions such as road rage could easily turn into accidents.
“No one should have to endure being sworn at, tailgated or honked at aggressively and it’s surprising to see so many Australians saying they’ve been involved in acts of road rage,” he said.
“These actions, regardless of whether people are the victim, perpetrator or just a witness, create unnecessary distractions, which could lead to accidents on our already busy roads.
“Not only is distracted driving the leading cause of accidents, but common road rage acts such as abuse, speeding, tailgating and even changing lanes erratically, can be considered punishable offences by the law.
“It’s best to think twice before letting your anger get the better of you on the road.”
Mr Taylor said that while some behaviours of other motorists could be triggering, keeping a cool head could mean a safe arrival at your destination.
“It may feel right to get your anger out or even police others in the heat of the moment, but this can see a situation go from bad to worse,” he said.
“Instead, if you see something that’s potentially dangerous, or if a crash has occurred due to road rage, you should make a note of the vehicle’s registration details if it’s safe to do so and involve the police as soon as possible.
“In these instances, the use of dashcams can be really helpful in recording any other details about the incident, such as the exact location and time it occurred.
“Also, in cases where you may have been involved in an incident, it can be a great supportive document to show that you were not at fault if you need to file a claim.”
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