Whether you’re driving too slow, too fast or driving perfectly fine, it appears road rage is on the rise – and many women think men are the main culprits. 

According to the AA, one in four Irish drivers has experienced a verbal altercation with another driver. 

Some 35% think road rage has worsened in recent years, while an overwhelming majority (98%) have felt annoyed at another driver’s behaviour. 

Three in four have said they often feel annoyed at another driver, but how do they express this annoyance? 

Newstalk reporter Sarah Madden asked drivers about their experiences of clashing with fellow motorists.

“There’s a lot of aggression, a lot of people have a short fuse because they're sitting there,” one man told Newstalk Breakfast. 

Speeding car. Image: Jeanette Teare / Alamy Stock Photo

Another man said his mother was “chronic” for expressing her anger towards other motorists. 

“She usually curses in Filipino,” he said. “She doesn't curse in English when she gets mad.” 

One driver said he “absolutely gets road rage” while driving. 

“Mostly when people in front of me are going like painfully slow,” he said. 

“I guess I'm always late, so I'm always in a rush, so I could always blame the person in front of me instead of myself.” 

Men and road rage

One woman said men are the most aggressive on Irish roads in her experience.

“They think they can just go in front of you,” she said. “Or on the motorway, going up right behind you and it’s so intimidating. 

“That's really intimidating. I'm abiding by the rules of the road, and you're just overtaking me – sometimes I do think it’s because I’m a woman.” 

Motoring journalist Geraldine Herbert said women are more likely to be the victim of aggression on the road. 

“Because they're seen as, you know, abiding by the law, maybe going too slow.” 

Aggressive driving

Women are typically more cautious drivers, which an “aggressive young male” might perceive as slow driving, according to Ms Herbert. 

“I also think a lot of aggression on the road is about the car you drive,” she said. 

“As someone who drives a different car every week, I’m treated very differently on the road depending on what I'm driving. 

“If you're driving a small car, you are more likely to be tailgated and treated aggressively than if you're driving a big car.” 

Ms Herbert said road rage is often connected to the perceived “prestige” of the car and its driver.