Drivers who get angry not only distract other motorists but make their own driving worse, according to a poll.

As many as 70 per cent admitted they got angry with other road users, the survey of nearly 1,500 drivers by the Institute of Advanced Motorists found.

And 28 per cent felt that getting heated behind the wheel affected their own driving competence.

Tailgating was the behaviour most annoying to drivers, with 28 per cent classing it as the most provocative, while 22 per cent felt that others taking a call while driving was the biggest irritation.

Hogging the centre lane was also a regular complaint, and drivers also reported a long list of other nuisances including aggressive driving, failing to indicate and bad lane discipline. The survey found that 33 per cent of drivers read or send text messages while waiting in a queue of traffic. Almost 30 per cent instigate or pick up a hands-free phone call, even though research suggests this is just as distracting as using a hand-held phone.

More than a third of drivers found passengers the most distracting thing about driving, with more than 60 per cent saying they would be more likely to be distracted with passengers in the car.

The next most distracting thing was billboards and other advertising, followed by watching out for safety cameras, mobile phones, and in-car entertainment.

IAM policy and research director Neil Greig said: “It is good to see motorists disapproving of bad driving, especially mobile phone use which is on the rise, but it’s worrying that so many still get angry when driving.

“With long commutes and increased congestion making driving particularly stressful, drivers must learn to manage the ‘red mist’.”