Having the car behind you drive too close is the most despised driving habit on UK roads.
It's important to always keep your cool behind the wheel, as letting your emotions get the better of you can have very serious consequences. However, you'd be hard pressed to find a driver who has not become at least a little bit agitated by the habits of fellow motorists.
While driving is an activity we all love, the fact of the matter is that we don't have the roads all to ourselves and instead have to make sure we're conscientious of and courteous to other road users – be they drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists or pedestrians.
But with everyone forming their own driving habits, it's no wonder we sometimes get fed up with the tricks other motorists are trying to pull. New research from GEM Motoring Assist has collated the most infuriating actions individuals encounter when on the road – and tailgating was found to be the most despised of them all.
Indeed, it was shown that two out of three survey participants most hate having the person behind driving too close to them. Second place was claimed by failures to indicate before making turns and third spot went to instances when motorists do not use motorway lanes properly.
Other annoying driving habits were found to be when people cut in ahead of others to leave little space and when they drive well below the applicable speed limit.
But while behaviour of this type may simply be seen as annoying by many, GEM has expressed concern that those who commit the offences are not being punished, adding this is down to the fact there are not enough traffic police officers on the roads.
David Williams, chief executive officer at GEM, said: "Without enough traffic police officers addressing habits such as tailgating and not indicating, bad driving practice is seemingly starting to become more common.
"Even though minor motoring misbehaviour seems less serious than certain other driving offences, it can be as equally dangerous."
He added it is traffic police who have to enforce punishments – but it is the responsibility of all drivers to stamp out poor driving practice.
By Fred Mason