As millions of people in the UK mark the start of Lent this week, new research suggests there may be something more urgent to give up than chocolate or alcohol: anger at the wheel.
Data released by the traffic safety technology brand OOONO indicate that road rage has become a defining feature of the country’s driving culture. According to the survey, 47% of British drivers claim to have experienced road rage while driving.
Among those interviewed, 15% say this happens frequently, while 31% report occasional episodes. Others 24% claim to have never experienced this type of situation, suggesting that the phenomenon is already common for the majority of drivers on the country’s roads.
Stress accumulated before even getting into the car
The research, carried out with more than 2,000 drivers from the United Kingdom, points out that the problem is not just linked to traffic itself, but to the emotional weight of modern life. More than 12% of those interviewed say they feel stressed, anxious, or emotionally overwhelmed every day when driving. This number rises to 40% when including those who feel this several times a week or more.
Asked about the most common triggers for stress, drivers cited:
- Lack of sleep (33%)
- Pressure at work (29%)
- Financial pressure linked to the cost of living (27%)
- Family or relationship pressures (24%)
- Health concerns (21%)
- Post-Christmas expenses (14%)
“Driving has become one of the main pressure points in modern life”, these Sean Morrisdirector of operations at OOONO in the United Kingdom. “When people get in the car, they’re often already carrying stress from work, family or financial worries. It’s on the road where that pressure shows up — and unfortunately, it’s coming out as anger.”
Differences by gender and age
The results also show a clear division between men and women. More than half of men (51%) claims to have suffered from road rage, against 42% of women.
The discrepancy is even greater when it comes to frequent episodes: 22% of men say they experience the situation regularly, while among women the rate is 9%.
In relation to age, drivers of 35 to 44 years old were the most likely to report road rage frequently: 29% in this group they claim to have frequent incidents. The number drops to 21% between 18 and 34 years old, 6% between 45 and 54 years old and only 4% between 65 and 74 years old.
“While road rage is often dismissed as ‘bad driving,’ this research shows it’s much more personal than that,” Morris added. “It’s not just what happens on the road — it’s what happens in people’s lives.”
Lent as an opportunity to “give up” anger behind the wheel
Although congestion is often to blame for aggressive driving, research suggests that for most drivers, traffic is not the main factor. Instead, internal pressures like work, finances and family responsibilities seem to be the strongest triggers, with the car becoming the place where emotions boil over.
With the Ash Wednesday marking a time of reflection and self-control, OOONO states that Lent can be a practical opportunity for drivers to rethink their behavior on the roads.
“Lent is about pausing, reflecting and letting go of something. Let go of road rage — even if just for 40 days — it can make travel safer, calmer and healthier for everyone. If we can change how we feel behind the wheel, we can change how our roads feel too,” concluded Morris.
For OOONO, or given that 24% of drivers have never experienced road rage reinforces that calmer driving is possible — and that letting go of road rage during Lent could be one of the most significant “sacrifices” of the year for many drivers in the UK.
Source and images: OOONO | Pexels. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
