Tailgating is the top reason for road rage among UK drivers, according to a survey by InsuretheGap.com

Motorists said that using a mobile phone (45%) and not using indicators (38%) made them the most angry, however, 34% admit to being guilty of these behaviours.

Other questionable driving activities making motorists “see red” are: pulling out in front without warning (35%); cutting in a queue of traffic (33%); and hogging the outside lane (30%). 

When asked how they respond when ‘angry’, drivers said they:

• Beeped car horn (82%)
• Flashed lights (76%)
• Gestured at another driver (48%)
• Swore at another driver (35%)
• A combination of swearing and gesturing (28%).

Only 2% had physically confronted another driver, with 10% verbally confronting another driver and 4% had blocked the other driver in using their car. An additional 5% leave an angry note and 4% make-do with a rant on social media.

InsuretheGap.com’s chief operating officer Ben Wooltorton said: “It’s easy to think that we’re all perfect drivers, but what’s interesting here is that people are honest enough to admit that a lot of the things that rile them on the road they’re guilty of too.

“There aren’t many of us that can say we never forget to put our indicators on or might drive too close to the car ahead so perhaps we shouldn’t get quite so wound up when other drivers do it.”

The survey questioned 1,726 drivers, all customers of Halo Insurance Services.