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SUV drivers now the most aggressive

SUV drivers were most likely to consider themselves to be an impatient driver.

SUVs have overtaken small cars as the vehicles most involved in aggression on the road. The latest study shows drivers of SUVS are taking a ‘might makes right’ attitude, admitting they are more likely to be guilty of bad behaviour behind the wheel.

The survey of 3700 drivers across Australia found SUV drivers led in six of the 10 aggression cues:  impatience; accidents caused by impatience; speeding in suburbs or outside schools; angry tailgating; yelling or swearing at other drivers; and gesturing rudely.

With almost two thirds of SUV drivers being women aged 25-49 and men aged 50 or older, the results overturn perception that young males in ‘hot’ cars are the aggression leaders.

AAMI believes the key to SUV driver behaviour is the large size and height of their vehicles, which gives the illusion of superiority.

“When you get behind the wheel surrounded by tonnes of steel, you feel confident, you feel safe -- and perhaps you feel you should be getting somewhere faster than everybody else,” AAMI spokesman Reuben Aitchison says.

“With that feeling of safety and security, you’re more likely to take risks.

“Simply being in a big car doesn’t give you any superiority on the road, despite what people think. Our statistics show it’s not the size of your car, it’s what you do with it that counts.

“Getting aggro on the road won’t get you to your destination any faster, and the same rules apply to us all.”

The AAMI study also found that drivers of black cars tended to be more aggressive than those of any other colour.

SUV drivers were most likely to:

  • Consider themselves to be an impatient driver
  • Have had an accident in the last five years because of their own impatience
  • Ignore restricted speed limits in places like suburban roads or outside schools
  • Have become angry with the actions of another driver and tailgated them
  • Yell or swear at another driver for doing something they thought was rude or dangerous
  • ‘Gesture’ rudely at another driver they think was doing something rude or dangerous

Small hatchback drivers were most likely to:

  • Cut in and out of lanes
  • Exceed the speed limit by more than 10km/h most of the time

Station wagon drivers were most likely to:

  • Honk their horns at other drivers
  • Tailgated even when not angry with another driver