RAC warns against aggressive festive motorists

21 December 2009

A snap poll of motorists carried out by the RAC has pointed to turmoil on Perth’s roads and in Perth’s shopping centre car parks over the Christmas period.

The RAC is warning drivers to keep their cool after a survey revealed that eight in 10 respondents believed other drivers were more aggressive over the festive season.

The survey also found four in ten motorists had been abused in car parks while they were Christmas shopping while nearly two thirds of drivers are stressed out by the Christmas shopping experience.

RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said as people packed onto roads and into shopping centres and precincts in the lead up to Christmas, people need to be mindful of others and share in the holiday spirit.

“It can be Christmas carnage on our roads and in our shopping centres in the week before Christmas so the RAC’s message to motorists is stay calm and keep cool,” he said.

“We need to avoid the more than common situation where our roads and car parks become battlegrounds for stressed out motorists.”

Mr Brown said to minimise any aggravation people should plan ahead.

“The short time you spend planning a trip in advance will ultimately reduce the time you spend in the car and at the shopping centre,” Mr Brown said.

“If you are going shopping then our advice is, it is best to beat the traffic and the crowds and go as early as possible.

“It’s also worthwhile doing some research online of what shops you need to go to, especially if you are unfamiliar with the shopping centre.
 
“Alternatively, people should also check out extended late night trading especially if they don’t have young families with them.”

Mr Brown said that there had been growing incidents of car park and road rage in recent years and the festive season was prime time for confrontations such as these.

“If you are confronted then our advice is not to react, apologise if necessary, and walk away – it’s not worth taking the risk of getting involved,” Mr Brown said.

“If you do feel threatened head back into the shopping centre where there are more people.”

The survey also found that more than half of respondents drive more carefully over the Christmas period.

“Christmas is a time for celebration but is also a time when motorists are more at risk on our roads.

“It is good to see that many people drive more vigilantly over the Christmas period and this can often be the difference between them having a crash.”

Does the lack of parking in shopping precincts during the Christmas period cause you to become stressed when driving?
No – 38%
Yes – 62%

Have you ever experienced verbal or physical abuse in a car park while Christmas shopping? 
No – 61%
Yes – 39%

Do you find drivers behave more aggressively during the Christmas period?
No – 21%
Yes – 79%

Do you alter your driving behaviour during this period?
More careful: 57%
More aggressive: 7%
No change: 36%

Sample: 245

Download the release (pdf)