Seven out of ten drivers experience feeling angry or stressed in traffic. But which group of drivers is most irritated behind the wheel?
Maybe you recognize yourself? Seven out of ten drivers report getting angry or stressed behind the wheel.
We've all experienced it – the car in front not using its turn signals, the driver who is too close behind, or someone who brakes suddenly for no reason. But who really gets irritated the most behind the wheel? According to a nationwide survey conducted by Norstat for Frende Forsikring, it is women who are the most irritable and stressed in traffic.
In the survey, a full 74 percent of female drivers surveyed said they get fired up in traffic. For men, the figure is 69 percent.
The difference is not large, but it still challenges the myth that men are generally more aggressive drivers.
This is how the stress level in traffic varies between age groups:
Source: The Friends Survey
Roger Ytre-Hauge, head of motor insurance at Frende Forsikring, says that there is good reason to let go of the irritation in traffic.
– A stressed or angry driver is a more dangerous driver than one who is calm and collected. When you are stressed, you also become more inattentive. Attention is one of the most important qualities when driving a car. Our injury figures show that many accidents and incidents happen because the driver is not paying close enough attention. Now in winter there is extra attention to be paid, so breathe out, don't stress and keep your attention on the road, advises Ytre-Hauge.
The subject manager has a clear call if you notice that your focus is not on the road, or your thoughts are disappearing elsewhere.
– Then you shouldn't get behind the wheel until you have your head in place. And when you hit the road, don't step on the brakes. Stick to the speed limit, put away your distracting thoughts and remember to keep a good distance from the car in front, he says.
The most impatient drivers are found in Finnmark, according to a survey conducted by Norstat for Frende Forsikring.
The survey also reveals large geographical differences. The most impatient drivers are found in Finnmark, while the most sensible drivers are found in Nordland.
– There are big differences between the counties. It's not entirely clear why, but the difference between Finnmark and Nordland is almost 40 percent. However, most are around 70 percent, which is the national average, says Roger Ytre-Hauge.
Here you will find the most annoying drivers:
1. Finnmark – 93 percent
2. Møre og Romsdal – 86 percent
3. Telemark – 83 percent
4. Vestfold – 76 percent
5. Buskerud – 75 percent
6. Akershus – 75 percent
7. Agder – 74 percent
8. Østfold – 72 percent
9. Oslo – 71 percent
10. Rogaland – 70 percent
11. Troms – 70 percent
12. Inland – 69 percent
13. Westland – 65 percent
14. Trøndelag – 63 percent
15. Nordland – 55 percent
Source: The Friends Survey
The winter months are peak season for car accidents, and January is the month with the most crashes in the last five years – closely followed by February and March.
In 2024, the insurance industry registered 62,853 passenger car injuries in the month of January – an increase of as much as 30 percent compared to the same month in 2023, according to figures from Finance Norway.
– The damages in January last year cost 1.5 billion kroner! The increase in costs compared to January the previous year is enormous, in fact a full 49 percent. This is not a development that can continue, otherwise insurance will become more expensive for most people, says Ytre-Hauge.
– Weather and road conditions during this dark month are part of the explanation, but it is the drivers who must adapt their driving to the surroundings. We know that stress only increases the risk of accidents, he says.
Source: Frende Insurance
