Road rage incidents are increasingly common on roads across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, with a recent survey revealing nearly three-quarters of drivers encountering aggressive behavior monthly. The NRMA’s Courteous Driving Survey, conducted in late 2026, gathered responses from 1,298 members in the region to assess the prevalence and triggers of discourteous driving.

According to the survey, 42 percent of participants reported being targeted by road rage in the past year. Notably, nearly one-quarter of these incidents occurred when children under the age of 16 were present in the vehicle. Furthermore, 74 percent of respondents said they had witnessed some form of road rage within the last month, while nine percent reported daily exposure to such behavior.

Peter Khoury, a spokesperson for the NRMA, expressed concern about the impact of road rage, especially when it involves young passengers. He highlighted the growing role of technology in documenting incidents, pointing out that smartphones and dashcams increasingly serve as tools for evidence and public awareness.

The survey also identified key driving behaviors that aggravate motorists. Tailgating was cited as the most provocative act by 73 percent of respondents, followed by failure to use indicators at 68 percent, and driving slowly in the right-hand lane at 65 percent. Signaling intentions when merging or changing lanes was overwhelmingly regarded as essential, with 97 percent agreeing it constituted an important courtesy. Other widely recognized courteous practices included refraining from illegal mobile phone use while driving (89 percent) and maintaining at least a three-second gap from the vehicle ahead (88 percent) to reduce tension on the road.

Older drivers were particularly bothered by illegal phone use, with 70 percent of those aged 65 to 70 naming it as the primary discourtesy provoking anger behind the wheel.

Khoury emphasized the role of basic courtesy in reducing road rage and encouraged drivers to adopt simple behaviors such as using indicators consistently, avoiding tailgating, allowing other vehicles to merge, keeping to the left lanes when possible, and acknowledging others’ gestures like thank-you waves. “Being courteous towards other drivers is the most effective way to prevent road rage,” he said.

Tracking road rage can be challenging due to its varied manifestations, which may include predatory or menacing driving, assault, offensive language, or harassment. Data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) indicates that proven predatory driving charges in New South Wales have risen over the past decade, increasing from nine cases in 2016-17 to 25 in the most recent financial year. Conversely, charges related to menacing driving with intent and knowingly driving in a menacing manner have declined during the same period, dropping from 69 to 54 and 75 to 30 respectively.