Rising tide of road rage

In one horrific incident, a wine bottle was hurled from a car at a driver on the Christchurch bypass during the rush hour.

In other incidents in the past year, a driver was threatened by a man wielding an axe and drivers have been beaten up, head-butted, followed home, and had abuse hurled at them.

Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, has said the problem is on the rise and more needs to be done to support the victim.

An abusive driver verbally threatened Mr Ellwood during a road rage incident in December 2006 and then tried to reverse into his car.

He said he pressed charges and had a witness but nothing happened.

"The law as it currently stands does not support the victim enough," he said.

"Therefore, either the police need to pursue these things more vigorously or the law needs to be reviewed.

"What is clear is there are increasing numbers of road rage incidents taking place.

"Until we suppress the increase, people will think this is acceptable behaviour.

"It's disgraceful that people can act this way when they are behind the wheel."

Mr Ellwood said it was part of a wider problem of diminishing standards in public life.

Hazel Bancroft of the Dorset Institute of Advanced Motorists said there should be tougher penalties for those caught committing road rage.

"They should have their licences taken away or there should be disqualification for a period of time; anything to make the road safer."

John Ferguson, MD of Flying Colours School of Motoring Ltd in Bournemouth, said he believed the problem of road rage was worst with middle-aged men.

"I think road rage in many instances is frustration as much as anything," he said.

Dorset Police said it did not have data specifically on road rage incidents.

"Dorset Police in no way condones bad-tempered driving," a spokesman said. "Mr Ellwood was sent a letter explaining why there was no prosecution."

A wine bottle was thrown from a car at a driver on the Christchurch bypass at 5.45pm last Thursday, August 21, near the Staple Cross turn to Burton.

The driver of the targeted vehicle had to swerve to avoid being hit by the bottle, which flew from a window of a grey Fiat Bravo and smashed across the eastbound carriageway, said a police spokesman.

Officers want to hear from witnesses, particularly people in a blue Renault Clio and a Jeep Cherokee who may have seen what happened.

• Telephone PC Phil Prentice on 01202 222222 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.