Brits are ‘monsters behind the wheel’
Getting behind the wheel is a case of Jekyll and Hyde for many motorists, a new survey has revealed.
Research carried out by insurance provider Aviva, in conjunction with Professor Geoff Beattie of the University of Manchester, found that 40 per cent of people experience a personality change when they get behind the wheel.
Of those surveyed, 61 per cent admitted they become more aggressive, GMTV reports.
A further 11 per cent described themselves as "racing drivers" and said they regularly speed in built-up areas.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Beattie said: "When we asked people to think more carefully about how they actually behave on the road, the realisation dawned that their natural reactions are not quite what they thought they were."
In related news, white van men were named as the nation’s worst drivers in a recent poll by Auto trader Compare.
Aggressive driving is a big problem; in the worst case scenario it can even lead out to fatal gunshot shoot outs. This happens quite a bit in the States (I’ve heard of more than a few cases of these types). In some cases it’s actually nice suburban or professional women; people who you would never expect to become enraged on the road. I read about a case in Texas where one woman shot the other one after they both spent an hour on the freeway cutting each other off back and forth.
One of the reasons to support gun control…although you would think if you were aware that anyone you may cut up may well be armed would make you consider your driving!
In the UK confrontations tend not to be fatal, but there have been a few incidents that have made the headlines.