I scream obscenities when people tailgate me, especially when I slow all the way down to 30km/h and they still don't get the hint.

Or when driving home in peak-hour traffic and having to slam on the brakes while going through a roundabout because someone doesn't understand the basic principle of indicating.

A recent Colmar Brunton poll on driving etiquette in New Zealand discovered the top three most despised drivers on the roads are tailgaters, non-indicators and texters. Photo: File

And text-drivers, people who ROFL while writing novellas of LOL's to their BFF's as their driving fluctuates between 50kmh and 32km/h and damn anyone behind them – c'mon!

Thankfully, this bellyaching curmudgeon is not alone as a recent Colmar Brunton poll discovered the tailgater, non-indicator and texter are the three most despised drivers on New Zealand roads.

The poll on driving etiquette included the most annoying habits of other drivers, how drivers on Kiwi roads compare to other countries and what driving misdemeanours those polled had committed.

Tailgaters were deemed the worst with half of those surveyed listing them in their top three most disliked driver types, and 21 per cent considering them the worst of all.

A total of 42 per cent put non-indicators in their top three, followed by texters on 32 per cent, crawlers on 28 per cent and cellphone callers on 26 per cent.

Colmar Brunton CEO Jacqueline Farman says the survey results indicate Kiwi drivers find it a lot easier to identify shortcomings in other drivers than in themselves, as is human nature.

'When confronted with a list of fairly common annoying driver behaviours, half of those surveyed claimed none of these described their own driving.

'Those over 40 years old are less likely than younger drivers to admit their faults,” adds Jacqueline, 'which could be interpreted as the older generation thinking they are okay but disapproving of the way younger drivers behave on the roads.”

A total of 38 per cent said Kiwis are worse drivers than their counterparts overseas, with just 21 per cent believing drivers here are superior. The over 40s were once again the leading group of critics.

Jacqueline says this could be down to their additional exposure to drivers in other countries over a longer period of time.

'Or it could be prompted by their observations of the evolution of New Zealand driving if they believe it has got worse over time.”

If you didn't know: indicators works by applying gentle pressure upwards or downwards to levers that can usually be found on a vehicle's steering column. Photo: File

Of note: those who classed themselves as crawlers were a lot more likely than other drivers to think Kiwi drivers are better than overseas.

While switcheroos, drivers who constantly switch between lanes are most likely to think Kiwis are worse than overseas drivers.

Jacqueline says driver dislikes are to some extent defined by the way they themselves drive.

'Crawlers are significantly more likely than other drivers to dislike tailgaters while those who admit to not indicating or texting while they drive are far less likely than most to see these as annoying behaviours.”

The survey also asked about the top three most annoying in car behaviours for drivers or passengers and wait for it: back seat drivers was in the top three for almost 80 per cent of people surveyed.

Indecisive DJ's followed a distant second and partiers - too many people in a car talking loudly -rounded out the top three.

THE 10 MOST DISLIKED DRIVERS ON KIWI ROADS:

• The tailgater (someone who follows too close behind you) 49 per cent
• The non-indicator (someone who does not indicate) 42 per cent
• The texter (someone who texts while driving) 32 per cent
• The crawler (someone who drives too slowly) 28 per cent
• The cellphone caller (someone who talks on their phone) 26 per cent
• The cut off (someone who cuts you off) 24 per cent
• The right lane hog (driving slowly in the passing lane) 21 per cent
• The fullbeamer (someone with blindingly bright lights) 20 per cent
• The weasel (someone who tries to sneak into traffic) 16 per cent
• The light gambler (someone who ignores traffic lights) 14 per cent

What type of bad driving habits boils your blood the most? Post your comments below.

If they're not important enough to call do you really need to text them while driving? Photo: File