Queensland’s top driving pet peeves fuel fury
Tailgaters, litterbugs and drivers glued to their phones top the list of Queenslanders’ biggest on-road frustrations.
RACQ’s 2025 Annual Road Safety Survey found almost every driver (96%) ranked tailgating as their number one bugbear, with more than 95% irritated by people tossing rubbish from vehicles.
Close behind was motorists texting or talking on handheld phones, with 93.3% of survey respondents placing that firmly among the State’s most frustrating driving habits.
The survey also highlighted generational differences. Just 81% of drivers aged 18 to 24 said they were annoyed by motorists ignoring speed limits in school zones or roadwork sites, compared with 97.7% of drivers aged 65 and over who listed it as one of their biggest pet peeves.
RACQ’s Road Safety and Technical Manager Joel Tucker said the results were a timely reminder for motorists to show more respect on Queensland roads and reflect on their own driving habits.
“We all have to share the road, and we all have places to be, so it is our responsibility as motorists to take care when driving,” Joel Tucker said.
“It’s time for every driver to stop and reflect on their own habits and get serious on road safety.
“Tailgating, failing to indicate and other reckless behaviours aren’t just frustrating – they dramatically increase the risk of crashing, causing serious injury, or even costing someone their life.“Similarly, if someone does something on the road to annoy you, make sure you keep a cool head and do not retaliate. Just focus on driving safely and play your part to improve Queensland’s road safety culture.”
This urgent warning from Queensland’s peak motoring body comes as the State faces a road safety crisis, with 2025 on track to be the deadliest year on our roads in more than a decade.
As of 7 September 2025, 210 lives have been lost on Queensland roads – ten more than this time last year and 19 above the five-year average.
“This year is on a collision course to become one of the deadliest in Queensland’s recent history,” Joel Tucker said.
“Don’t let one mistake or one lapse in judgement be the reason you or someone else lives with lifelong trauma.”
To combat the alarming surge in road trauma, RACQ launched its ‘Get Serious on Road Safety’ campaign calling on the State Government to implement a number of key reforms to crackdown on dangerous drivers.
For more information visit http://racq.com/getseriousonroadsafety.
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