Fifty-four percent of South African drivers claim to have been on the receiving end of aggressive or threatening driving behaviour in the past 12 months, a recent study has found.
A total number 1 986 respondents from Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town were asked about various acts of road rage experienced, ranging from persistent honking of horns to actual physical violence.
According to the study, drivers from Gauteng experienced more road rage than drivers in other metropolitan areas.
Fifty-seven percent claim to have experienced aggressive or threatening driving behaviour and 59% have been on the receiving end of rude gestures or verbal insults.
”Gauteng has a very high level of traffic congestion, which could easily contribute to the high levels of road rage experienced”, said Jon Salters, managing director of Synovate in sub-Saharan Africa.
Females, 27%, reported a higher number of experiences while driving for leisure purposes when compared with males at 18%.
Most South African motorists tended to demonstrate their aggression from within their vehicle, using flashing lights, rude gestures and hooting to indicate their anger.
Salters said the above reading (May 2007) showed a sharp decline in rude gestures and verbal insults, dropping to 55% from 71% in August 2005.
Only 3% claimed to have been a victim of road rage that involved physical assault or use of a weapon.
Salters said the study found that drivers over 50 years of age appeared to be the least hostile drivers.
More than a third, 39%, of South Africans described themselves as being slow and cautious drivers.
Durban motorists saw themselves as the most cautious out of all areas surveyed. — Sapa