Automobile Club KS e.V. on Forsa Survey of the DVR: How Aggressive Are We on the Road?

Complex traffic situations, stress, and rush can sometimes lead to aggressive behavior behind the wheel. How people behave in certain traffic situations has now been surveyed by the Forsa survey "Aggression in Road Traffic" commissioned by the German Road Safety Council (DVR). The automobile club KS e.V., one of the founding members of the DVR, has compiled the most important results.

Emotions affect behavior in traffic

Everyone knows it: You're extremely annoyed because the car in front of you is inching along the country road at a snail's pace even though you could drive much faster. Or you get the impression that all the other drivers are driving as if they won their license in a lottery. And when you're already in a hurry, an annoying e-scooter is in the way when you try to turn into the parking lot.

Or: You're overtaking on the left on the highway and a tailgater rushes from behind with their high beams flashing, getting uncomfortably close to your bumper. Cyclists and pedestrians often feel equally pressured by drivers who think things can't go fast enough.

What do these cases have in common? Emotions can run high in traffic, manifesting in aggressive behavior or driving style. The opinion research institute Forsa found out exactly how the mood is on Germany's roads through a representative online survey of 1,000 road users. Respondents were able to indicate whether they fully agreed, rather agreed, rather disagreed, or completely disagreed with statements.

The study titled "Aggression in Traffic" was commissioned by the German Road Safety Council (DVR), which was co-founded by the KS e.V. automobile club.

Tailgating and driving too closely 

When asked about the situation where other drivers tailgate or drive too closely, the majority remains calm: 72 percent of respondents said they make room and let the tailgater pass. This is consistent with the reports of 85 percent of the respondents who stated that they do not become angry and wouldn't briefly tap on the brakes.

However, 27 percent of respondents still give in to such an impulse: they deliberately drive even slower in such a situation. On the other hand, 21 percent said they become nervous with tailgaters and generally drive faster even though they don't want to.

"The group that reacts nervously to tailgaters tends to include drivers under 30. In contrast, men and those over 60 tend to continue driving calmly more often in such situations," comments Isabella Finsterwalder, press spokesperson for the KS e.V. automobile club, on the study results. "However, it was shocking that a whole 45 percent of respondents said they were annoyed when a vehicle in front strictly adheres to the speed limit, although they believe the road should allow for a higher speed."

Reactions Behind a Slower Vehicle

Participants were also asked how they behave on the highway when stuck behind a slower vehicle. The vast majority, 92 percent, stated that they remain calm in this situation and wait until an opportunity to overtake arises. Maintaining a sufficient distance from the car in front is also part of this for 86 percent, even if they are annoyed by the slower vehicle.

However, 19 percent said they occasionally drive a bit closer to signal a desired overtaking maneuver – 13 percent of respondents sometimes overtake on the right in such driving situations. Even 8 percent show the driver how irritated and annoyed they are as soon as an opportunity presents itself.

Especially the group of 30 to 45-year-olds emerged as rather impatient in this topic and admitted to occasionally driving closer or overtaking on the right. Overall, it is rather men than women who do not maintain the required distance and thus signal their desire to overtake.

“Such behavior poses a high accident potential – especially on highways where braking distances are longer due to higher speeds, maintaining sufficient distance can be crucial,” warns Finsterwalder.