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Courtesy and respect on the road

As our lives get more hectic, courtesy can suffer. And nowhere is this truer than on the road. Courtesy and respect for fellow road users makes driving more enjoyable. More importantly the roads are safer. Too many crashes are caused by lack of courtesy and impatience.

Drink driving, dangerous driving and road rage are extreme examples of disrespectful driving, but the more common discourtesies that drivers can lapse into - such as slow driving, failure to indicate, or not allowing enough following distance - also lead to crashes.

AA speaking up for motorists

More courtesy will make our roads safer

Did you know?

Bad overtaking is ranked the worst driver behaviour by AA Members.

Society must accept that bad manners and careless behaviour are a major cause of road accidents. More courtesy and care from road users will help improve road safety and reduce the road toll.

Courtesy on the road also involves recognising and accepting some responsibility for the actions of fellow road users. It is about being forgiving and making allowances, recognising that you will benefit when this goodwill is reciprocated.

The AA would like to see more education to emphasise the importance of individual behaviour and personal responsibility on the road, for example guidance on passing lane etiquette and how to overtake other vehicles safely. Also, education that stress and fatigue can reduce concentration and tolerance, and increase the risk of being involved in a crash.

What AA Members are saying

AA Members were asked to rank a range of driving annoyances. The results revealed that driver behaviour is a huge concern for Members in a March 2006 Survey. 1 is considered the most annoying.