What Riles Drivers Most
Study shows top pet peeves, along with drivers’ secret judgments about other motorists.

Over a quarter of poll respondents say they themselves are innocent of the hated trespasses.
Pexels/Roman Pohorecki
A poll confirms what most drivers already knew: Driving can be a pain in the you know what. The results reveal just which irritants rankle the most.
At the top of drivers’ pet peeves list, as revealed in the LendingTree survey, sits texting while driving, a practice that’s illegal in most states but that happens nonetheless.
More than half of drivers who acknowledge having pet peeves on the road – and 92% say they have them – point to texting drivers as the worst of them. The most common peeving offense among respondents who admitted to committing them is, you guessed it, texting while driving.
“Texting while driving is deadly and inexcusable,” says LendingTree auto insurance specialist Rob Bhatt. “In the amount of time it takes to send a note or check your screen, you can miss seeing cars stopped in unexpected freeway traffic in front of you or a worker on the side of the road. It’s 100% avoidable.”
The poll found the second- and third-ranking pet peeves are driving slowly in a passing lane, 44%, and drivers who block fellow travelers from merging, 41%.
Perhaps ironically, 27% of poll respondents say they themselves are innocent of such trespasses.
Irritating other drivers can of course have consequences. The study found the unsurprising fact that driving can raise people’s dander.
Half of respondents said they’ve experienced what they consider road rage, and half of those said it moved them to drive aggressively. Traffic tempers were more common among men – 56% versus 43% of women, and especially among the youngest drivers – 62% of generation Z drivers and 59% of millennial ones.
The poll revealed other interesting road habits and prejudices. For more detail, visit the test results page.
LEARN MORE: Most Drivers Would Accept Speed-Warning Tech
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

Luxury Rooftop Changes Hands
Genesis of Glenview is getting a new owner and a new location, but its name will stay the same.
Read More →
Future-Proof Your Business
A new industry outlook details several ways that automotive companies can use the rise in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to their advantage.
Read More →
Dealership Buy-Sells Keep Going Up
First-half transactions reflect continued high appetite for acquisitions despite falling profits, the most sought-after franchises bringing record prices.
Read More →
California Makes Electric Moves
New laws in the Golden State aim to advance consumer access to public electric-vehicle chargers and reduce costs and barriers to its infrastructure.
Read More →
Rare Earths Independence
Automakers seek alternatives to sourcing battery raw materials in volatile markets roiled by trade wars and disrupted supply chains.
Read More →
Volvo Appoints President and CEO
Klaus Zellmer will replace Håkan Samuelsson as president and CEO of Volvo Cars in 2027 as the company makes strategic shifts toward profitability and cash generation.
Read More →
Fix Up Your Fixed Ops
The department may hold untapped potential for your dealership. This issue of the magazine shares ways to unearth it and turn it around for more profits.
Read More →
Easier EV Charging Touted
Wireless charging pad provides automatic powering by just parking, says its maker, which sees a cable-free charger future as global EV demand grows.
Read More →
Vehicle Ownership Costs Rising
Fuel prices, car prices and depreciation are all factors for new vehicles, and this year’s average annual numbers are up with the inclusion of electrics and hybrids.
Read More →
Toyota Tops Longevity List
Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Acura came out on top in iSeeCars’ latest longest-lasting car brand study, all eclipsing the overall average chance of reaching 250,000 miles.
Read More →