Rudeness revs up motorists the most

Bad manners have been blamed for numerous road rage incidents by a nationwide campaign urging people to drive better.

Boy racers, drivers who don't thank you when you let them out and drivers who show off are the top three types of drivers that AA members most dislike, according to an online poll of 14,743 AA members for the Autocar/AA Drive Better campaign.

Now the campaign organisers feel that some good old fashioned manners could bring back the smile to drivers' faces and remove the threat of road rage.

AA president, Edmund King, said: "Many drivers do thank others who let them out but 37 per cent of male drivers and 46 per cent of female drivers still find those who don't a major irritation.

"Lorry drivers tend to flash their hazard lights and others raise their hand to acknowledge the good manners of other drivers.

"It does not take much to let someone into the queue of traffic or to acknowledge them. We all need to live in harmony on the roads so better manners would help."

The top ten types of most disliked driver in the AA poll were:

1. Boy racers

2. Drivers who don’t say thanks

3. Drivers who show off

4. Those who listen to loud music, windows open

5. White van man

6. Sunday drivers

7. School run mums

8. Taxi/Mini cab drivers

9. Foreign lorry drivers

10. Drivers with caravans