A new survey of motorists in Western Australia (WA) has revealed some of the worst habits on the road, with tailgating and poor merging topping the list, according to the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA).
The five worst behaviours, according to respondents, were:
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Tailgating
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Failing to merge correctly
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Not using indicators correctly
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Driving distracted
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Weaving in and out of traffic
Eighty-seven percent of drivers said they had experienced tailgating in the past 12 months, while one in two claimed other motorists do not know how to merge properly.
The survey also revealed that in the past 12 months, 69% of respondents had been rudely gestured at by other motorists, 40% had been yelled at or confronted, and one in three had been involved in a near-miss caused by road rage.
Eighty-eight percent of respondents rated their own driving as good or very good but only 26% said the same of other motorists.
RAC general manager of External Relations, Mr Will Golsby, said, “It appears many people rate their own driving skills much higher than those around them, which may be contributing to a sense of complacency on our roads.”
The RAC continues to call for improved road safety measures, particularly in regional areas where road trauma has been a persistent issue.
In August, Western Australians were urged to call out the most dangerous roads and intersections in the state, including those that are in urgent need of upgrades.