Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Increase in road rage and abuse from drivers

19 replies

Reallynothappyagain · 19/11/2025 09:12

Wondering if it’s just where I live but I’ve noticed an increase in road rage, happening on a daily basis. I live on n the South East in an area where the population has exploded due to constant building of new housing estates.

Traffic and the roads were busy before but now it’s like driving around central London. My road is closed with access only due to roadworks. This hasn’t stopped people hurtling down the road doing 50 in a residential street trying to cut through. We have cars constantly zooming up the road, having to turn round then putting their foot down to race back from where they came.

I have just tried to reverse into my driveway cue lots of beeping and verbal abuse from people annoyed at having to wait one second while they try to cut through a CLOSED road.

There are so many driving accidents where I live, constant near misses and general road rage it’s making me nervous to even get in the car.

I got beeped at for stopping to let people cross at a school crossing yesterday, the car then decided to go round me and the children crossing rather than wait.

If I do the speed limit of 30 driving around my town I am tailgated by drivers pushing me on wanting me to go faster. My car is quite new and has a black box and does warning noises if I go over the speed limit so I can’t!

I find it so depressing living in a town full of aggressive drivers who don’t seem to care about the safety of others.

OP posts:
Reallynothappyagain · 19/11/2025 11:05

No-one?

OP posts:
TheNightingalesStarling · 19/11/2025 11:07

We are getting dash cam.

Reallynothappyagain · 19/11/2025 11:28

Does that help with aggressive drivers?

OP posts:
smallglassbottle · 19/11/2025 11:35

I've noticed more entitled driving, but it's not the majority of drivers in my area. People are still kind and we let each other in and out. It's usually young males when I do encounter dodgy driving. My area is busier than it once was, but not excessively built up.

kalokagathos · 19/11/2025 16:13

I’ve never known different, tbh. Learned in London and moved to Kent 10 years ago.

kalokagathos · 19/11/2025 16:13

And I would also concur young males in shitty cars tend to tailgate crazy!

OhDear111 · 19/11/2025 16:14

I live on a bridleway. Bridleway rage is confined to cyclists! It’s men!

FadedRed · 19/11/2025 17:23

Have a word with 101, and see if they can locate a speed camera along your road for a day or two, that might put the ‘rat-runners’ off a bit, it does where I live. Maybe they could organise a temporary ‘No through road’ sign as well. Might not happen, but worth a phone call or email.

jollygreenpea · 19/11/2025 18:06

FadedRed · 19/11/2025 17:23

Have a word with 101, and see if they can locate a speed camera along your road for a day or two, that might put the ‘rat-runners’ off a bit, it does where I live. Maybe they could organise a temporary ‘No through road’ sign as well. Might not happen, but worth a phone call or email.

I immediately thought of the program 101.
It sounds like it could be a very nice earner for the police with a camera.

Sadly I think it's getting worse everywhere. Far more people drive now than when I was growing up ( a long time ago ). I think there are drivers that perhaps shouldn't be drivers out there.

RWat378 · 19/11/2025 18:14

I’m with you, I’ve noticed it a lot more in the last couple of years. Loads more aggressive and impatient drivers. It’s like everyone is out for themselves. I used to love driving and now I loathe it. The worst is when someone does something dangerous, you beep them and then get a load of abuse. They’re often angry pieces of gammon in van 😂

Glitchymn1 · 19/11/2025 18:15

I think people are just generally angrier, impatient, unkind…..

Wonderbug81 · 19/11/2025 18:18

Totally agree. Also noticed this as a pedestrian e.g. drivers coming at you while you're still on the zebra crossing.

thetallfairy · 19/11/2025 18:21

Reallynothappyagain · 19/11/2025 11:05

No-one?

100 per cent agree

Had the shittest experience yesterday

Fcking people taking over the road

It is very scary I must say

thetallfairy · 19/11/2025 18:21

kalokagathos · 19/11/2025 16:13

And I would also concur young males in shitty cars tend to tailgate crazy!

Yes it scares the heck out of me

Waitingfordoggo · 19/11/2025 18:29

I also live in the South East and my local roads are very busy- we’ve had constant roadworks over the past several years. Lots of new housing estates means more cables and pipe work etc. and yes, there is a lot of aggressive driving.

I just stay in my happy little car bubble and keep calm. When others are hooting/gesticulating/tailgating, I completely ignore them- literally pretend I haven’t noticed their rage. It’s very satisfying. Ultimately, it’s their blood pressure they are impacting, not mine. I’m not going to drive any faster just because they are cross, so they’re wasting their time (incidentally, I’m not one of those who drives way under the limit- I try to drive on the limit so there is no justification foe anyone to feel angry about my driving).

ShoveItUpYourArseMargaret · 19/11/2025 18:45

I agree. I live in a similar area in terms of new housing development.

The volume of traffic using rat runs etc is increasing and doesn't save any time compared to the main road. Angry, braindead people drive through the rat run, only to get stuck at the traffic lights at the other end.

People can very angry and seem to think this is ok, you can see them mouthing off in the car.

They really need to give their heads a wobble.

Lovetosurf · 19/11/2025 18:59

Yes, I'm in South East and agree. Lots of new housing and roads are congested.

During rush hour seems to be a lot more secondary age kids getting dropped off at school in cars, rather than getting there by public transport or walking!
Also noticed increase in drivers failing to indicate, particularly on roundabouts.

I avoid driving as much as I can and if I can get somewhere by train that's my preferred option, even if it costs more. If you take public transport you can usually build in a few more steps into your day too.

Cupofteaforyou · 19/11/2025 22:12

I have the mis fortune to be a cyclist and horse rider as well as a pedestrian and car user. Road rage, entitled driving and total unawareness of risks are rife.

LupaMoonhowl · 20/11/2025 09:09

And some drivers just even don’t even see cyclists.
New BBC Chairman

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15307777/Moment-Children-Need-chairman-female-cyclist-bike-BMW-Terry-Duddy-resigns.html

New posts on this thread. Refresh page