Road rage is rife in Ireland - survey

A major European survey has dispelled the myth that road rage doesn't exist on Irish roads. The Gallup Europe survey found that road rage is widespread and on the increase in Ireland.

Some 82 per cent of Irish drivers surveyed admitted to being "very annoyed" by other road users, ranking Ireland fourth highest of the 15 EU countries surveyed.

The survey also found that almost 40 per cent of road users had been victims of "aggressive driving" in the past year.

A spokesperson for the National Safety Council said aggressive driving behaviour could be attributed to lifestyle pressures, but this was no excuse, as it inevitably lead to road crashes and fatalities. The spokesperson urged motorists to exercise tolerance and more patience on the roads.