Aggressive drivers make others aggressive

Aggressive driving by one person behind the wheel can result in others following suit. That is the conclusion of a new study carried out by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and tyre manufacturer Goodyear. The conclusion of the research reveals that when one driver behaves aggressively, others will respond with similar behaviour. The study was carried out in 15 separate countries and included close to 9,000 drivers.
December 7, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Aggressive driving by one person behind the wheel can result in others following suit. That is the conclusion of a new study carried out by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and tyre manufacturer 5010 Goodyear. The conclusion of the research reveals that when one driver behaves aggressively, others will respond with similar behaviour. The study was carried out in 15 separate countries and included close to 9,000 drivers.

Of those who participated, 87% said that when other drivers behave badly, they are also likely to do so. And 55% of those surveyed also admitted that when they have been angered by the behaviour of one driver, they may then exhibit a similar reaction to other road users. Meanwhile, when drivers show patience and respect for each other, this behaviour will also be reciprocated and repeated.

Typical triggers for anger at other road users can stem from issues such as tailgating, poor lane discipline, incorrect signalling or careless manoeuvres at junctions.

The study also reveals that certain drivers are not only dangerous themselves but also trigger similar behaviour in others, potentially resulting in crashes elsewhere entirely.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Tyred compactors deliver the finish touch
    June 21, 2016
    A steady resurgence in demand for rubber tyred compactors for finishing work has seen manufacturers introduce new models - Mike Woof writes The rubber tyred compactor looked for a time as if it might disappear from the market only a few years ago, when demand began to dip for these units. However a resurgence in interest from the marketplace prompted manufacturers to revamp their respective product ranges, delivering new models to meet demand. Typically used for tasks such as finishing work, rubber tyred
    Read More
  • French 18-25 year olds underestimate driving style-linked dangers, study shows
    May 2, 2014
    According to a TNS Sofres study on driving styles for Axa, the frequency of driving and the kilometres travelled annually by France’s 18 to 25 year olds are higher than the national average. The study, which focuses on 350 young drivers in this demographic in addition to 1,200 other drivers, shows that they underestimate the dangers of using smartphones while driving. The study also showed that 62% of 18 to 25 year olds drive when they are tired.
    Read More
  • Purple haze – the exhaust debate
    May 25, 2016
    Following in the wake of the VW diesel engine emissions scandal, serious questions are finally being asked with regard to exhaust pollution. Car manufacturers have published data on the emissions from their vehicles for many years, but there has been a widespread scepticism as to how these figures have been achieved. The issue of claimed road vehicle exhaust emissions is a case of smoke and mirrors.
    Read More
  • The UK’s pothole crisis is causing vehicle damage and crashes
    July 1, 2019
    The poor state of maintenance of UK roads is a factor in many crashes while also causing damage to vehicles according to road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart. In a bid to address the issue, IAM RoadSmart is calling for a long-term plan to tackle the problem. According to a survey it conducted, nearly 50% of the respondents have experienced pothole damage to their vehicles. The government’s Transport Select Committee has issued a report stating that the current short-term approach to financing road maintenan
    Read More

Highlighted Content