11% of Walloons and 13% of Brussels residents have already got out of their car this year, to do battle with another motorist. Aggressive driving has clearly increased in recent years. It is linked to the return to a “normal life”, following two years of health crisis.
Gaëtan found himself in a delicate situation, faced with a person who cut him off: “She bumped into me and started insulting me thinking I was wrong, which was not the case at all. It ended in a fight in the middle of a crossroads, because the person was ultra aggressive and did not accept that I stand up to him”.
Motorists around stopped to separate us
Gaëtan then found himself on the ground: “He started beating me in the ribs, in the stomach and it was the motorists around who stopped, to separate us”. Today, he changed his behavior: “With hindsight and especially with my two children, I am much more careful. When the headlights flash on me on the third lane of the motorway, I prefer to crash, fall back to the right, even if it means slowing down, leaving to waste time, but at least I’m not putting my children in danger”concludes the father.
7% of drivers have been victims of extreme forms of physical violence this year, compared to 2% in 2017, according to figures from the VIAS institute.
6.5% of drivers have already got out of their car to do battle with another motorist, compared to 2.5% in 2017. This figure is even 11% in Wallonia, and 13% in Brussels. And one out of 5 Belgians declares that behind the wheel, he is no longer the same person.
One driver out of 4 often adopts uncivil behavior on the road according to the AWSR, the Walloon Agency for Road Safety. 3 out of 4 do it sometimes.
1 out of 10 Walloons brake suddenly when another vehicle is following too closely. 1 in 6 speeds up when someone tries to pass. 1 in 6 makes fishtails.
These are mostly young people (18 to 34 years old). 33% of them admit that they are not courteous at the wheel.
What explains this increase in violent behavior?
During the health crisis, we were used to meeting fewer people on the roads. The return of traffic, traffic jams and multiple road users (cars, bicycles, scooters, etc.) tense many motorists.
A few tips to stay zen
Do not take incivility for yourself, have empathy and imagine that it is someone close who is in the other vehicle, do not react to avoid the escalation of violence, stay in your vehicle .
What do violent motorists risk?
In the event of a fight between motorists, criminal proceedings may be initiated. In the event of aggressive driving and malicious obstruction of traffic, there is a risk of a fine, withdrawal of license and even a prison sentence. In the event of a voluntary accident (for example, running into the vehicle in front because it bothers me), the insurance does not work. It is therefore the faulty motorist who will have to pay for the damage to the two cars.
