Is road rage a major contributory cause of car accidents?

Equipment failure, roadway design, poor roadway maintenance and driver behaviour are four main contributory factors of car accidents. The driver's behaviour is, however, usually the primary cause of a crash.

Despite this fact, studies show that the majority of drivers involved in a car accident think the other party is at fault - 80 % in fact. Only five % said they believed they were the only person responsible.

The overwhelming feeling amongst most UK drivers that they are right and everybody else is wrong explains why most people believe that they are more skillfull and safe on the road than the average driver.

Time pressure and car accidents

Speeding and time pressure is another major cause of car accidents. As drivers hurry to get to work during rush hour when there is a lot of traffic on the road, speeding to make up time often causes an accident. Drivers who are on the road regularly are even more likely to be affected not only by their own speeding but also by the speeding of other drivers.

Motorists who are already in an angry state are twice as likely to be subject to "road rage" and car accidents as they think aggressively, drive aggressively and take more risks on the road than other drivers. Whereas, drivers who are normally calm may become agitated around aggressive drivers and drive less cautiously than they should.

On the other hand, calm drivers who drive cautiously and take steps to avoid getting angry - like listening to relaxation music for example - are less likely to have a car accident.

Congestion and road traffic

Excessive road traffic accelerates and exacerbates road rage, especially in large cities, for drivers with a long commute and for those who spend a long time on motorways. The stop-start pattern of most motorway commutes can be infuriating for many, especially if they are already late, have a meeting to attend or family commitments.

In the famous American film 'Falling Down', the central character (named D-Fens after his number plate, a pun on the word defence) attempts to get home for his daughter's birthday and gets stuck in a traffic jam on the hottest day of the year.

When he hits traffic and draws to a stop he becomes infuriated, develops road rage and abandons his car to try and make the remainder of the journey on foot. Along the way, he becomes increasingly angry as he tries to overcome a series of hurdles, like getting accosted and being overcharged. Eventually he decides to force everybody out of his way.

How to claim for a non-fault car accident

For anybody involved in a car accident it can be not only extremely inconvenient but also distressing, especially if you suffer personal injuries as a result.

You may be entitled to make a compensation claim if you have been involved in a non-fault accident and our personal injury solicitors are experts in cases of this kind. They will offer you free legal advice and talk you through each stage of the claim process.

We can also compensate you for pain, suffering and lost earnings and provide you with a free replacement vehicle for the time that your car is off the road.

Call us now on 0808 143 43 42 to start the claim process today.