Texting and talking on the mobile phone while behind the wheel has been named Queensland’s most frustrating driving behaviour by motorists and especially irritates riders who are most vulnerable to inattentive drivers.
In fact, the top four annoying driver behaviours all cause motorcycle riders aggravation. Second is tailgating, third is drivers who increase their speed when you try to overtake them and fourth is motorists who throw litter out of their vehicles.
Who hasn’t been hit with a cigarette butt while riding behind a vehicle?
The pet annoyances are included in the annual RACQ “What Drives You Crazy” survey.
Illegal use of mobile phones has jumped from third last year to top the list.
Because of our elevated view, riders often see drivers trying to hide their phones in their laps while texting or talking and using the phone’s speaker.
That’s why West Australian police use motorcycles to patrol for this offence.
RACQ Executive Manager Technical and Safety Policy (and Suzuki Bandit owner) Steve Spalding says if a driver is looking at their phone “they are not looking where they are going, or who they are about to run into, and this is particularly worrying for those who ride”.
Steve Spalding“Road rules are there to keep everybody safe, not just the driver, or their passengers, but those around them who also use the road.
“The recent introduction of double-demerit points for repeat offenders of illegal mobile phone use highlights the concern in the community for changing the behaviour of those drivers who can’t, or won’t, put down their phone.
Drivers tailgating dropped to second in the RACQ survey, but it is still a dangerous habit of drivers who sit on the rear mudguard of a motorcycle.
“Our advice if someone is closely tailgating you then don’t speed up to try and increase the gap instead look for an early opportunity to let them pass you and thereby reduce the risk of being hit from behind,” Steve says.
The fifth annoyance of motorists incorrectly using indicators could be something that riders do as most motorcycles don’t have auto-cancelling indictors and often accidentally leave them on.
What Drives You Crazy survey top 10 frustrating behaviours for 2015
- Motorists talking/sending SMS on hand-held mobiles (3rd in 2014)
- Drivers who follow too closely/tailgate (1st in 2014)
- Motorists who increase their speed when you try to overtake them (4th in 2014)
- Motorists who throw litter out of their vehicles (2nd in 2014)
- Motorists who incorrectly use indicators e.g. indicate too late or fail to indicate at all (6th in 2014)
- Motorists who aren’t courteous e.g. allowing room to merge/change lanes (5th in 2014)
- Motorists parking incorrectly e.g. Double-parking or using disability car parks (10th in 2014)
- Motorists turning from the wrong lane e.g. At multi-lane roundabouts (8th in 2014)
- Motorists who do not move over to allow others to overtake (13th in 2014)
- Motorists ignoring restricted speed limits e.g. At school zones or road works (9th in 2014)