Drivers report alarming changes in road safety, sparks widespread discussion and concern

As the roads become busier and the pace of life seems to quicken, it's no surprise that stress levels are rising.

However, a worrying trend has been emerging on Australian roads, one that's not only concerning but downright dangerous.

A recent survey has revealed a startling admission from Aussie drivers: an increasing number are feeling compelled to carry weapons to defend themselves against potential road rage attacks.


This alarming trend has been particularly noted in Queensland, where the RACQ’s Annual Road Safety Survey has highlighted a significant uptick in aggressive driving behaviour.

A staggering 84 per cent of motorists feel that road aggression is escalating, a figure that has jumped 10 per cent since 2020.

What's even more disturbing is that 7.6 per cent of those surveyed admitted to keeping a weapon in their vehicle.


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Queensland drivers report an alarming rise in weapon carrying for road rage protection. Credit: Facebook


This is a considerable increase from the 4.8 per cent reported last year and should give us all pause.

The RACQ’s Road Safety and Technical Manager, Joel Tucker, described this revelation as 'particularly concerning.'

The survey also shed light on the aggressive behaviour drivers resort to.


Tailgating remains the most common act of aggression, followed by car horns and hand signals.

However, there has also been a 'significant' rise in drivers cutting off others, slowing down deliberately, and even getting out of their cars to confront other motorists on foot.

While most drivers try to stay calm and avoid confrontations, there's a worrying increase in those who say they would 'respond similarly' to aggression, up five per cent from last year.

This tit-for-tat mentality can only lead to more hostility and potential accidents on the road.

Mr Tucker's message to Queenslanders is clear: 'There is no place for aggression on our roads.'

He reminded us that roads are hazardous enough without the added danger of road rage. Patience and a level head are crucial, as the consequences of impatience or anger can be severe, even life-changing.


The human cost of road rage is all too real, as evidenced by the harrowing experiences shared by individuals like Emma Evans from Caboolture.

She recounted a terrifying encounter with an aggressive ute driver on the Bruce Highway, an ordeal that lasted 30 minutes and could have ended in tragedy.

A Finder survey earlier this year found that 74 per cent of Australian respondents admitted to engaging in dangerous driving behaviours known to cause accidents and fatalities.

Tragic stories, such as the Sydney man who died after an alleged road rage incident and a Queensland mum left with two broken legs after an altercation, underscore the severity of the issue.

Diane McMurtrie, president of Hannah’s Blue Butterflies Road Safety Awareness, succinctly stated, 'Road rage is futile, dangerous, and selfish.'

She reminds us that every time we start our cars, we're in control of a 'loaded weapon.'
Key Takeaways

  • A concerning increase in Queensland drivers admit to carrying a weapon for protection against road rage incidents.
  • Aggressive behaviour on the roads, such as tailgating, horn honking, and aggressive hand signals, is perceived to be getting worse by an overwhelming majority of drivers.
  • RACQ emphasised that aggression has no place on the road and urges drivers to maintain a cool head to ensure everyone's safety.
  • Instances of road rage have had severe and traumatic consequences for victims, with some even resulting in injuries or death.
How do you deal with aggressive drivers, and what helps you stay calm while driving? What changes could your community make to promote safer driving and reduce road rage? Let us know in the comments below.
 
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I drive on the M1 regularly. There are numerous drivers exceeding the posted speed limits on every trip take.

My routine is to drive to or just under the limit.

Many of the overtaking drivers pass on the far right lane at speeds that make me look like I'm standing still.

Some who are obviously agitated by my driving speed, approach from behind at speed and veer right seconds before colliding and race off doing (in my opinion) at least 20km over the limit and putting everyone in their path in danger.

In both cases the behaviour is aggressive and stems from a belief of entitlement (along the lines of 'I can do what hell I like!').

I watch as they overtake and hope there's a police vehicle or radar ahead to fine them because money and demerits seem to be the only way to get these idiots to pull their heads in.
 
Again I say this has a lot to do with the fact that every speedo shows a different reading. Those who do know can be driving at up to 14khp below the speed limit despite their speedo shownig they are driving at the spped limit. Driving to slow is as dangerous as driving to fast. The ADR (Australian Design Rules) should be help fully responsible for all the accident this rule causes. Before I found out about this rediculous rule and realised I was driving too slow caused all of the mentioned problems in this article.
 
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So many drivers these days are aggressive on the roads, it's like everything else, so many people can get violent which makes the road a dangerous place.
When young kids get a licence to drive, they should be limited to a less powerful car, taught how to drive safely on wet roads and also taught that impatience and speed leads to accidents, injuries and sometimes death.
Seems that young people are just handed a driving license, if they pass their driving test, get in a powerful car with their mates as passengers and get out on the roads and act like maniacs. It's virtually giving them a license to drive a dangerous vehicle.
 
I drive on the M1 regularly. There are numerous drivers exceeding the posted speed limits on every trip take.

My routine is to drive to or just under the limit.

Many of the overtaking drivers pass on the far right lane at speeds that make me look like I'm standing still.

Some who are obviously agitated by my driving speed, approach from behind at speed and veer right seconds before colliding and race off doing (in my opinion) at least 20km over the limit and putting everyone in their path in danger.

In both cases the behaviour is aggressive and stems from a belief of entitlement (along the lines of 'I can do what hell I like!').

I watch as they overtake and hope there's a police vehicle or radar ahead to fine them because money and demerits seem to be the only way to get these idiots to pull their heads in.
Hi "Annna",
"Novezar" here,
I'm totally in your boat on this one. As we travel on the M1 constantly, I lock the speed control on 109 in the 110k's zone.
As you infer too, other drivers leave you in their dust. I've seen radar systems in the most unexpected places.
You just hope that they get "Pinged".

I must admit in doing the wrong thing at certain times, i.e., have had to get up to 120 to get past a certain situation where you can forsee a problem occurring ahead to which you want to avoid.

Another problem which we come across is where 2 semi's are driving abreast of each other with either not yielding. You just have to give 'em a real wide berth.
 
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Again I say this has a lot to do with the fact that every speedo shows a different reading. Those who do know can be driving at up to 14khp below the speed limit despite their speedo shownig they are driving at the spped limit. Driving to slow is as dangerous as driving to fast. The ADR (Australian Design Rules) should be help fully responsible for all the accident this rule causes. Before I found out about this rediculous rule and realised I was driving too slow caused all of the mentioned problems in this article.
There are no ADR'S anymore, we don’t make cars here.
 
And on top of all the rage, drivers are not checking their cars for any faults, especially in QLD where we don't have to get yearly pink slips. I was stuck in the Logan Motorway carpark for several hours yesterday, the amount of cars without brake lights was unbelievable. Adding to that they don't take the option of getting indicators when purchasing the cars is a joke.
I have a friend who has just had an accident that wrote his car off and because of his age he was automatically in the wrong, and has since lost his licence over it. But he did say to me he does not remember seeing the Ute's brake lights.
I really don't want to go back to having to get pink slips as it is hard enough to get into my mechanic as it is, but come on people tell the person in front their rear lights aren't working. I have jumped out at traffic lights to tell the driver in front and he was most grateful.
 
And on top of all the rage, drivers are not checking their cars for any faults, especially in QLD where we don't have to get yearly pink slips. I was stuck in the Logan Motorway carpark for several hours yesterday, the amount of cars without brake lights was unbelievable. Adding to that they don't take the option of getting indicators when purchasing the cars is a joke.
I have a friend who has just had an accident that wrote his car off and because of his age he was automatically in the wrong, and has since lost his licence over it. But he did say to me he does not remember seeing the Ute's brake lights.
I really don't want to go back to having to get pink slips as it is hard enough to get into my mechanic as it is, but come on people tell the person in front their rear lights aren't working. I have jumped out at traffic lights to tell the driver in front and he was most grateful.
"
"the option of getting indicators when purchasing the cars is a joke." Look, I'm going to sound stupid (but remember, I'm old enough to not care) but by indicators do you mean left and right blinkers? Surely not: iThey can't be optional, and it must be something else, but I can't think what it would be.
 

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