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Which Sex Drives Madder?

New Kanetix.ca study shows that men are more likely than women to admit to aggressive driving behaviour that could be considered road rage.

TORONTO, ONTARIO, November 6, 2012 - While more men than women admit to doing it, both sexes are prone to exhibiting aggressive driving behaviour. According to a recent study from online car insurance comparison service, Kanetix.ca, 83 per cent of men and 76 per cent of women admit to exhibiting road rage-like behaviour.

The poll, which was conducted by Leger Marketing, reveals that, overall, 79 per cent of Canadian drivers admit to aggressive driving behaviours that could be deemed as road rage. The Ontario numbers hold steady at 83 per cent (men) and 72 per cent (women) respectively.

Road rage can refer to events of speeding, profanity and lewd gestures directed at another motorist, following too closely, purposefully cutting off another driver, and even exiting a vehicle leading to physical confrontations.

Road rage statistics: Road rage-like behaviours Canadians admit to doing.

Drivers who engage in these aggressive behaviours say they are most commonly set off by distracted drivers who are not paying attention. There may also be a little bit of "monkey see, monkey do" influence at play because, two in five drivers indicated their road rage is triggered when they see others driving aggressively around them.

"I think it is fair to say that all of us, at some point in our daily travels, have encountered a form of road rage. Our goal with this study was to gain a better understanding of what triggers the most common types of road rage so we can raise awareness of the issue and offer advice that will hopefully keep people calmer behind the wheel," said Janine White, VP Marketplace, Kanetix. "Given that the vast majority of respondents admit to some form of road rage, it is clear that most drivers can be provoked into dangerous driving."

Interestingly, according to the study results, the triggers for road rage aren't necessarily in response to the behaviour of other drivers (getting cut off, other motorists driving aggressively, distracted drivers on cell phones, eating, etc.). Personal issues like time management, having a bad day, and being uncomfortable in one's driving environment (such as city driving) also cause aggressive behaviour behind the wheel.

Road rage statistics: Triggers for road rage

When it comes to gender differences, distracted driving gets under the skin of both male and female drivers and can cause an aggressive response. Men, however, are more likely than women to react aggressively to being cut off by another driver. Women, on the other hand, blame their road rage-like tendencies on running behind schedule more so than men. While the causes can differ, the result is the same - both genders most commonly respond by speeding (61 per cent) when provoked.

Female drivers are either calmer or just less likely to admit to aggressive driving. More than 22 per cent of female respondents believe themselves to be "perfect drivers" - not partaking in any elements of road rage. This number is notably higher than male drivers with only 15 per cent considering themselves in the same way.

"We want every road trip to be a return trip," added Ms. White. "It is important that all Canadian drivers take the time to recognize their own behaviours that might be putting them - and others - at risk."

Kanetix offers these tips to avoid being a victim of road rage:

Obey speed limits and traffic laws
Keep to the right if you are a slower driver
Call 911 if you see an individual driving recklessly
Be cautious of other drivers and expect the unexpected
Do not make eye contact with an upset driver
Do not confront an upset motorist
If you are cut off, refrain from making any hand gestures to the other motorist
If you are being chased by another motorist who appears to be in rage, do not weave in and out of traffic (this is very dangerous)
If you are being chased, drive with the flow of traffic and alert the authorities via hands-free calling.
If you have to pull over, try to go to a well-lit location where there are other people

You can access a range of resources stemming from the study's findings here:

Methodology
The survey was conducted from August 13, 2012 to August 15, 2012 with Leger Marketing's online panel, LegerWeb. The sample size was 1423 Canadian drivers 18 years of age and older. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error +/-2.6%, 19 times out of 20.

About Kanetix®
Launched in October 1999, Kanetix was Canada's first online insurance marketplace and today provides over a million quotes per year to consumers looking for insurance, as well as comparisons for mortgage rates and credit cards.

The Kanetix comparison service is a one-stop shopping environment for consumers. Each day, thousands visit the Kanetix website at www.kanetix.ca to comparison shop their various financial needs. Shoppers choose what they want to compare, obtain a quotation and complete an online application or, with the help of Kanetix connect with the provider to purchase or apply for the product over the phone.

Through its Software as a Service team, Kanetix is also the leading provider of online insurance quotation technology, developing online quotation systems, mobile solutions, actuarial tools and websites for many of Canada's largest insurance brands.

For more information, visit Kanetix.ca or contact:

Braden Rosner
416.599.9779 ext. 343
publicrelations@kanetix.ca
Kanetix Ltd.

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