North East drivers - some of the angriest!!

Only people in the South West are worse!

Published 5th Oct 2016

A new road rage survey from the car leasing experts Lease Car has revealed that drivers in the North East are likely to experience road rage an average of 7.1 times a month, that’s the second highest in the UK.

The survey asked more than 1,200 people in the UK a series of questions about their road rage experiences and discovered some regions found their time on the road more infuriating than others!

The angriest regions behind the wheel in the UK (based on instances of road rage a month)

  1. South West – 8.1 2. North East – 7.1 3. Yorkshire – 7 4. Midlands – 6.5 5. North West – 6.5 6. Wales – 6.3 7. London –5.9 8. Scotland – 5.8 9. South East – 5.8 10. East – 5.3

The UK’s roads are busier than ever. If you’ve driven through Newcastle city centre lately, I’m sure can attest to that.

The latest figures from the Department for Transport reveal that traffic levels increased by 2.2% last year, with 316.1bn vehicle miles covered by UK drivers – the highest ever annual total. It’s no wonder we’re so stressed!

So who are the people that make our blood boil behind the wheel?

The top 5 most irritating road users in the North East

  • Cyclists 43.6% - School Run Mums 32.7% - White Van Men 30.9% - Taxi Drivers 27.3% - Farm Machinery 23.6%

Of course, it’s not just drivers in the North East that get rowdy on the road. Shockingly, the survey revealed 8.8% of UK drivers have been run off the road due to a road rage incident!

Tim Alcock, Senior Marketing Executive at Lease Car said:

“Our survey revealed that motorists experience road rage more than we anticipated. It’s also far more common in certain areas of the UK. We hope the results will raise awareness of the dangers of road rage and encourage drivers to take a calmer approach.”

It’s important to understand that what may seem like a minor reaction can be extremely dangerous and carry serious penalties if you’re caught by the police. We all become frustrated on the roads from time to time, but in these situations it’s important to stick to remember the old saying; keep calm and carry on.”

You can read more results of Lease Car’s road rage survey here -