Three Quarters of British Drivers are Being Threatened on the Road

Over three quarters (76%) of drivers in Great Britain have experienced some form of threatening behaviour while driving, with one in five (18%) experiencing serious offences, according to the latest MORI research commissioned by Direct Line(see editors note 4), the UK's leading motor insurer.

The most common type of threatening behaviour is offensive sign language with around 53% of people falling victim to this. Additionally, nearly half of all drivers (46%) reported aggressive beeping or light flashing, 27% have suffered from verbal insults and 8% threatened with physical violence.

Of the more serious types of threatening behaviour, 11% of drivers reported being victims of car-stalking, 9% suffering from deliberate damage to their car, and 2% have been physically attacked (non-sexually).

Direct Line carried out similar research in 1997 since when the level of threatening behaviour has fallen, but only slightly, from 81% to 76%. Yet despite this continued high level, very few drivers are taking precautions to confront potential risks: only 44% always lock their car doors; 27% carry mobiles; 21% tell people of their movements; 5% carry something that can be used as a weapon; 4% take a dog and 3% carry a rape alarm.

In particular men are less likely than women to take any precautions. Only half (53%) of men take any form of precaution compared to three out of four (75%) of women, despite the fact that men are three times as likely to be threatened with physical violence as women. (12% and 4% respectively).

This pattern is also reflected in figures that show that only 27% of men are worried about threatening behaviour while in a car whereas over half of women (52%) worrying about becoming victims. However, one in three people (30%) do not feel safe parking in a multi-storey car park, three times as many as a single storey car park (9%).

Diana Lamplugh, founder of The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said:

"It is of great concern to us that so many people are victims of aggressive and threatening behaviour while in their cars. It is also worrying that less than half of drivers take even the simple step of locking their doors to reduce the risk to themselves and extremely worrying that people are carrying weapons in their cars."

Annette Court, Direct Line's managing director, motor, said:

"As the UK's largest private motor insurer we are obviously interested in the safety of drivers and the serious implications of violence on the roads.

"This research has been carried out as part of an ongoing campaign we are undertaking with The Suzy Lamplugh Trust to educate drivers on how to keep safe when they are in their cars. This includes a series of seminars currently taking place across the country and a comprehensive advice booklet we have produced on keeping safe in your car."

Technical details

MORI Financial Services interviewed 1573 car drivers face-to-face in their Omnibus survey between 29 April and 4 May 1999