Young South African drivers are quite reckless compared with their counterparts abroad, tyre maker Goodyear’s third yearly Road Safety Survey has revealed.

Goodyear probed the road behaviour of 6 400 drivers under the age of 25, with the survey covering 15 European markets, as well as South Africa.

According to the results, 83% of young South African drivers admit they speed up rather than slow down at an orange traffic light, compared with the global average of 73%.

Thirty-two per cent accelerate on purpose when another driver tries to overtake (global: 22%); 38% admit they brake on purpose when a car behind is too close (global: 32%); and 48% say they weave from lane to lane in heavy traffic in order to save time (global: 28%).

Young South African drivers are also the most likely to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks at dinner, at 45% (global: 20%)

They also exhibit high levels of anxiety about breaking down in a bad part of town, or being hijacked, which Goodyear says might reflect the higher crime rate in the country.

Where, globally, 45% of young drivers worry about breaking down in an unsafe area, this statistic escalates to 78% for South African respondents.

Other concerns include being hit by another car – 77% of respondents (global: 63%); suffering a sudden loss of tyre pressure or having a puncture – 71% (global: 53%) and running out of petrol – 57% (global: 41%).

Just more than 70% of young drivers say that are afraid of being hijacked (global: 38%) and 5% declare they have been hijacked in the last two years. For this reason, 33% of young South African drivers carry some form of self-defense weapon in their vehicles.

Looking at all the nationalities who took part in the study, the Swedes top the list of aggressive young drivers, while youngsters from Turkey, Spain and Italy are the least likely to display aggressive behaviour.

South African drivers are more aggressive than average and are the most likely to make obscene hand gestures.

The Goodyear’s survey also reveals that gender stereotypes are alive and well on the road.

Globally, men are more aggressive than women and are more inclined to engage in dangerous behaviour, such as overtaking more than one vehicle at a time on a two-lane road (58% men, compared with 42% women); deliberately accelerating when someone tries to overtake (25% compared with 19%); and tailing a car closely and flashing lights to pass (22% compared with 12%).

Interestingly, young drivers living on their own are more aggressive than those who still live with their parents.

They are more likely to swear (73% compared with 63%) or make obscene hand gestures (31% compared with 25%).