Disrespectful Drivers

Learning to drive is challenging, and dealing with aggressive drivers makes it even tougher. Unfortunately, over a third (36%) of learners report negative experiences like tailgating, aggressive overtaking, and unnecessary honking.

We set out to understand which disrespectful behaviours learner drivers face most, how these behaviours impact them, who is most affected, and whether stricter penalties should be introduced. To get these answers, we surveyed over 500 learner drivers and 170 driving instructors.  

If aggressive drivers have shaken your confidence, driving lessons can help you to learn skills that rebuild your confidence, so you can handle whatever the road throws at you. 

 

The most common forms of intimidation towards learner drivers 

 

One of the most frequent forms of intimidation is tailgating, with 70% of those who have encountered disrespect on the roads identifying it as a frequent issue.

Nothing is quite as nerve-wracking as a car sitting too close, pressuring the learner to speed up or make mistakes. 

Following this is aggressive overtaking, experienced by 64% of learners, and unnecessary honking at 58%.  Even when learners follow road rules and drive at the correct speed, these behaviours are a challenge.  Being cut off or having other cars change lanes unexpectedly happens to 55% of learner drivers, adding to the stress.

When looking at these behaviours as a percentage of all learners, one in four learner drivers has experienced being tailgated, while 23% have faced aggressive overtaking, 21% unnecessary honking, and 20% have been cut off unexpectedly.

 

How disrespectful behaviour impacts learner drivers 

 

Dealing with intimidation and disrespect on the road can have a lasting impact on a learner’s confidence and comfort behind the wheel. In fact, 59% of learners reported feeling more anxious to drive after enduring these behaviours. 

The pressure and stress also make them more prone to mistakes—32% admitted they were more likely to slip up when faced with aggressive drivers. For one in five learners (22%), the experience is so discouraging that they even take a break from driving. Only a small portion of learners (20%) reported no impact from the negative behaviours, highlighting the toll it takes on most.

 

The age learners are most likely to be victims of disrespectful driving 

 

Our survey shows that younger learner drivers, particularly those aged 16-20, experience significantly higher rates of intimidation and abuse compared to older learners. In fact, they are 14% more likely to face disrespectful behaviour than those over 30 (39% vs. 25%), and 8% more likely than those over 20.

The data reveals that a quarter of these young learners encounter the top four types of intimidation—tailgating (30%), aggressive overtaking (28%), unnecessary honking (24%), and being cut off (24%). In comparison, older learners aged 20+ are less likely to face these situations, with fewer than 17% reporting any of these behaviours from other drivers.

Interestingly, younger drivers tend to show resilience, with 26% saying these experiences did not affect their driving confidence. In contrast, only 8% of older learners reported no impact.

 

The locations where learners are most likely to be victims of disrespectful driving 

 

When it comes to intimidation on the road, learners in metropolitan areas are slightly more likely to experience abuse than those in regional areas, with 37% of urban learners facing disrespectful behaviour compared to 35% of regional drivers. Among capital cities, Sydney and Adelaide report the highest rates of intimidation at 39%, while Brisbane learners experience the lowest at 34%.

Regional learner drivers are, however, more likely to encounter certain aggressive behaviours, reporting higher rates of tailgating (31%) compared to 24% in metropolitan areas. Meanwhile, city learners are more likely to experience behaviours such as being cut off or sudden lane changes (21%) compared to 16% of regional learners. Verbal abuse is also more common in cities, with 8% of learners being shouted at with insults, versus 4% in regional areas.

 

Learner drivers keen to see stricter rules and punishments in place for disrespectful drivers 

Four out of five learner drivers believe that stricter rules and penalties should be in place for those who drive dangerously around learner drivers. Over half (53%) would like to see more warnings and fines, while 27% suggest demerit points or suspensions. 

 

How driving instructors feel about disrespect towards learners  

 

Driving instructors play a crucial role in teaching learners how to navigate both driving mechanics and disrespect from other drivers. Instructors witness firsthand the intimidation learners face, from tailgating to aggressive overtaking, and understand how these incidents can impact student confidence. 

Seven in ten instructors (71%) have observed disrespectful behaviours towards their students. Aggressive overtaking is the most frequent (82%), followed closely by tailgating (79%) and unnecessary honking (78%). 

These acts don’t just create immediate stress; they have a lasting impact. Nearly 80% of instructors say these behaviours increase student anxiety, and over 40% note that it leads to more mistakes. For some learners, the intimidation is severe enough to make them pause their driving journey, with one in ten instructors noting that students took a break from driving due to these experiences.

Recognising these patterns, 93% of instructors support stricter rules and penalties for aggressive behaviour towards learner drivers, a sentiment even stronger among instructors than learners themselves. 

 

What did learners have to say? 

“Someone learning something important shouldn’t be learning under stressful conditions, you don’t see any plane pilots learning to fly planes under stress, driving behaviour needs a new approach when it comes to ruling.” Harris, Regional QLD 

“They were once learners too. I don’t understand why they get so impatient, I feel like they shouldn’t have their licence and be on the road if they don’t have patience. I will be going the speed limit and they get so mad because they see the L plate and don’t want to be stuck behind a learner. The L plate is like a big target magnet for drivers to attack us learners.” Yasemin, Melbourne 

“Just be more mindful and kind to learner drivers. They are still learning and a little slack afforded to them would benefit everyone overall. Drivers who learn well go on to drive well.” Salome, Regional QLD 

“Drivers that are aggressive towards learners are putting so many people at risk. Learners don't know how to react in dangerous or unpredictable situations, so these drivers are putting learners in a situation that they can't reasonably be expected to handle. The majority of these incidents come and go so fast, while I wish there could be some sort of punishment for it, I don't know how it could be tracked or enforced. My best recommendation for learners is to drive with a qualified instructor in their car, as they are best equipped to help navigate these situations while confidence is growing.” Sarah, Sydney 

 

Tobi Pearce, Founder, CEO at EzLicence: 

"At EzLicence, we know that learning to drive can be daunting. Aggressive behaviours from other drivers make it even more stressful, and our survey shows the real impact - tailgating, aggressive overtaking, and unnecessary honking leave learners feeling unsafe and less confident. 

Driving lessons make a huge difference. With guidance from a qualified instructor, learners develop the skills and confidence to stay calm and focused, even in challenging situations. A safe, supportive environment helps learners feel prepared and ready to handle any challenge."

 

About the data

This study analysed survey results from over 500 learners, as well as over 170 driving instructors on the EzLicence platform to understand their experiences throughout their learning journey. 

Our aim was to understand whether learners had experienced, or instructors had witnessed disrespectful, abusive, or intimidating incidents involving other drivers. We wanted to know what types of behaviours were most common, how it affected the learners’ driving, at what stage it happened during their development, and what changes they wished to see in regard to this kind of behaviour. 

The survey was conducted in October 2024, and included respondents across the diverse usership of the EzLicence platform, including age range - from 16 years and over, and location - across all states excluding NT, where EzLicence does not currently operate.

Note that percentage values may not sum due to rounding.