Fact Sheet 15 - Safer Road Users - Sharing the Road and Agressive / Anti-Social Driving

There is widespread public concern about the increasing incidence and severity of aggressive driver behaviours.

European research suggests that drivers feel more threatened by aggressive behaviour than drink driving (Townsend and Avenoso 2008, p24).

Frequent reports of ‘road rage’ encompass a broad range of unacceptable retaliations to road user behaviour from rude gestures or swearing to assault or murder, and the normalisation of ‘road rage’ is believed to contribute to the increase in this type of behaviour (Watson in Sunshine Coast Daily 2009).

Therefore the media term ‘road rage’ could in fact be hindering the recognition of this type of behaviour for what it really is – aggressive/ antisocial road user behaviour.

The RACQ acknowledges that driving is a complex task, which places varying demands on the driver according to different environments. How drivers behave can have a dramatic effect on reactions from other road users. Therefore, care, courtesy and awareness are all very important attributes of a safe road user.

As a counter to aggressive and ‘me first’ driving behaviour, the RACQ promotes a ‘sharing the road’ approach to road use.

In Queensland in 2008 there were 13 fatalities or 4% of the road toll as a result of crashes involving drivers or riders who were driving dangerously (Data Analysis Unit 2009, p5). There were also eight fatalities or 2.4% of the road toll as a result of crashes involving negligence (Data Analysis Unit 2009, p5). Both dangerous driving and negligence, as assessed crash contributing factors, could relate to aggressive or anti-social driving, however the actual number of crashes related to aggressive/anti-social road user behaviour is difficult to determine since other factors, such as alcohol and drug use, could also result in more aggressive/anti-social road user behaviour.

Since 2000 (Peters 2007, p21), the Queensland Police Service’s state-wide traffic complaints system has allowed recording of complaints made by members of the public in relation to the driving behaviour of other road users, and served as a management and intelligence resource for the Queensland Police Service (Queensland Police Service 2009).

Members of the public wishing to make complaints are advised to make complaints in person at a police station, where the officer enters the complaint into the system (Queensland Police Service 2009). Further investigation of complaints is based on the seriousness of the offence and the likelihood of obtaining sufficient evidence for prosecution, with traffic complaints that clearly identify an offending driver or vehicle being thoroughly investigated (Queensland Police Service 2009). In instances where the offending driver or vehicle cannot be clearly identified, location-based education, awareness and enforcement may be an option (Queensland Police Service 2009).

The Queensland Police Service (2009) advises that from 2007 to 20 April 2009, a total of 7,490 traffic complaints were recorded on the complaints system and that of these, 5,840 have been closed or finalised. Traffic complaints can often result in infringement notices or cautions being issued (Queensland Police Service 2009).

RACQ research in 2009 into the most concerning/annoying road user behaviours suggests that Queensland road users are most concerned about distracted drivers and road users who break road rules (Traffic and Safety Department 2009).

The number one most concerning behaviour overall for the more than 10,000 Queenslanders who participated in the RACQ’s 2009 Pet Peeves survey was drivers talking/sending text messages on hand-held mobile phones, replacing tailgating, which had ranked as number one in similar surveys undertaken in 1995, 2002 and 2006 (Traffic and Safety Department 2009). Tailgating was ranked fifth overall most concerning/annoying in 2009 (Traffic and Safety Department 2009).

The survey results suggest that an increased, on-road police patrol presence to enforce the range of road rules, but especially those relating to hand-held mobile phones, would be of benefit.

‘Hooning’ type behaviours, e.g., street races, time trials and burnouts, are also a source of concern for many Queenslanders (Queensland Police Service 2008, p45).

Queensland’s anti-hooning legislation was introduced in November 2002 (Folkman 2005, p1) and to 30 June 2008 there had been 4,665 vehicles impounded (48 hours) for a first offence for these types of risky and anti-social behaviours. Only 92 offenders had been detected offending on a second occasion (three months impoundment) and only nine offenders had been detected a third time (vehicle forfeiture) (Queensland Police Service 2008, p45). This suggests that vehicle impoundment, as a penalty for this type of offence, can be an effective deterrent to repeat anti-social driving behaviour.

Priorities: Sharing the road and Aggressive/ Antisocial Driving

1. Continue to provide accurate information to road users on current road rules, improve their awareness of responsibilities and educate them on how to interact safely, e.g., tailgating.
   
   
2. Continue education campaigns in coordination with appropriate and timely enforcement activities targeting unsafe/antisocial road user behaviours, e.g., hand-held mobile phone use, roundabout use, following too closely, cyclist road rules, indicator use, changing lanes, merging and hooning offences.
   
   
3. Continue to monitor and address trends in unsafe road use, e.g., incidents reported to Queensland Police Service’s public complaints database.
   
   
4. Investigate better enforcement methods for aggressive driving behaviours, e.g., tailgating.
   
   
5. Educate and encourage the public and media to abandon the term ‘road rage’ and describe events for what they are – e.g., verbal abuse, assault or murder on the road or in relation to road use.
   
   
6. Introduce a mandatory code of conduct for advertisers to ensure consistent and positive message about road user safety are presented in the media and to avoid glamorising unsafe vehicle and road use practices.
   
   
7. Improve awareness among road users of the need to prepare and plan for trips to reduce en-route stress and anxiety.
   
   
8. Further research aggressive and anti-social driving, with a view to helping to identify sources and developing countermeasures.
   
   
9. Promote the environmental and economic benefits of driving more considerately (of other drivers) and sympathetically (of the vehicle).

References

Data Analysis Unit 2009, Queensland Road Toll Weekly Report: Report No: 575, Year to Date to Monday, 26 January 2009, Queensland Transport, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Folkman, Lisa-Marie 2005, ‘Queensland’s Anti-Hoon Legislation and Policing Methods used to Prevent Hooning Behaviour’, 2005 Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference Proceedings, Web Document, Accessed 09/04/09: http://www.rsconference.com/pdf/RS050037.pdf

Peters, B 2007, ‘Tell the police’ in The Road Ahead, October/November 2007 Edition, The Road Ahead Publishing Co, Springwood, Queensland, Australia.

Queensland Police Service 2008, Annual Report 2007-08, Queensland Police Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Queensland Police Service 2009, Correspondence with Tucker, J. 27/04/09.

RACQ 2006, 2006 ‘What Cheeses You Off?’ Survey Results Report, The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland Limited, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Townsend, E. and Avenoso, A. 2008, "Road Safety as a right and responsibility for all": A Blueprint for the EU’s 4th Road Safety Action Programme 2010 – 2020, European Transport Safety Council, Brussels, Belgium.

Traffic and Safety Department 2009, 2009 Pet Peeves Survey Results Report, RACQ, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Watson, B in Sunshine Coast Daily 2009, Angry Coast drivers, 29th January 2009, Web Document, Accessed 09/02/09: http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/jan/29/sunshine-coast-drivers-most-aggressive-queensland/

Contact 

For more information contact RACQ Traffic and Safety on 1300 853 658 or 07 3872 8925, or email traffic@racq.com.au.