What's the news?
Everyone has their pet hates when it comes to the behaviour of other drivers; GEM Motoring Assist has surveyed UK motorists to find out what actions are most likely to raise the blood pressure.
Tailgating came top of the list, followed by drivers who fail to indicate before making a turn and poor lane discipline on motorways. Further down the list a lack of manners will get people's backs up. Not saying 'thank you' for being let in is regarded as worse than motorists who won't let you in or change lanes. Using the horn to admonish those who make minor errors will also put you in people's bad books.
According to GEM part of the reason bad behaviour is so annoying is the fact that so much of it goes unpunished due to a lack of traffic police on the road.
GEM's CEO, David Williams MBE, commented: "Without enough traffic police officers addressing habits such as tailgating and not indicating, bad driving practice is seemingly starting to become more common.
"Even though minor motoring misbehaviour seems less serious than certain other driving offences, it can be as equally dangerous. Although it is the role of the traffic police to enforce punishments, it is up to us all as road users to ensure that we ourselves avoid poor driving practice."
Anything else?
Here is the full top ten of motoring misbehaviours:
1. Vehicles driving too close behind your car
2. Drivers not indicating before making a turn
3. Drivers not practicing proper motorway lane use
4. Other road users cutting in and reducing the gap between you and the vehicle in front
5. Motorists driving well below the applicable speed limit
6. Lorries slowly overtaking other vehicles on motorways/dual carriageways
7. Drivers not thanking you for letting them through/letting them pass
8. Motorists not letting you in and preventing you from moving/joining lanes
9. Road users honking their horn at you if you change your mind about lane position, or make a minor error
10. Drivers taking the parking space that you had indicated towards
John Lambert - 25 Sep 2013