WHILE a recent RACQ survey of Queensland motorists has found there to be significantly more road rage incidents on the State’s roads than five years ago, police statistics show that this is not the case in Noosa.
Almost 88 per cent of motorists surveyed felt road rage had become a more common issue in the last five years, and eight out of 10 female motorists believed the incidents were getting more severe.
According to Noosa Heads officer in charge Senior Sergeant Steve McReight the comparison of the first three months of this year and the same period last year indicates one less complaint recorded about ‘road rage.’
“Last year there were 25 complaints about road related issues such as speeding cars, and this year so far there have been 24,” Snr Sgt McReight said.
Anecdotally, he and his team find the hotter the weather, the more impatience and anger on the roads with nights such as Christmas Eve especially testing as people are known to rush, instead of taking a deep breath.
While Noosa’s figures are positive, RACQ’s Lauren Ritchie said road rage should not be tolerated on Queensland roads.
“Motorists shouldn’t have to fear aggressive or violent attacks by other drivers,” Ms Ritchie said.
“Some people quickly forget that we are all equal on the road… we are all trying to get to our destination quickly and safely.”
Ms Ritchie said RACQ wants the Queensland Police Service to put a greater emphasis on targeting anti-social driving behaviours, including tailgating and cutting off other drivers.
RACQ is working with the University of the Sunshine Coast on better understanding driver behaviour and the need for more courteous driving.
“It’s about sharing the road and we want to make sure that every time you get behind the wheel you don’t forget to treat others kindly on Queensland roads,” she said.
“Whether you’re a motorist, cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian we all have to work together.
“No one group owns the road.”
Break out boxes
RACQ advice to drivers to help avoid aggressive driver behaviour is to:
Remain calm and relaxed
Drive defensively and make allowances for errors by others
Adopt a ‘share the road’ rather than a ‘me first’ approach to driving
Use the horn sparingly and only as a warning device
Leave unpleasant encounters or delays in the past and concentrate on the rest of the trip
And… don’t try to police other road users’ behaviours.
RACQ research in 2011 into the most concerning/annoying road user behaviours suggests that Queensland drivers are most concerned about:
1. Drivers who follow too closely/tailgate.
2. Motorists who increase their speed when you try to overtake them.
3. Motorists who throw litter out of vehicles.
4. Motorists talking/sending text messages on hand-held mobile phones.
5. Motorists who incorrectly use indicators – indicate too late or fail to indicate at all.
6. Motorists displaying aggressive behaviour – blowing horn, verbal abuse, hand signals.
7. Motorists who are not courteous – allowing room to merge/change lanes.
8. Motorists who do not move over to allow others to overtake.
9. Motorists who block intersections.
10. Motorists who turn from the wrong lane – at multi-lane roundabouts.
