One-in-five Kiwis report feeling annoyed when they see cyclists on the road, with men more likely to experience rage compared to women.
A study by dashcam manufacturer Nextbase found cyclists agitate many New Zealand motorists, with 21 percent saying they feel annoyed and 17 percent frustrated when seeing them on the road.
Men are more likely to react with rage compared to women (7 percent compared to 2 percent), but men's driving behaviour is more likely to be positively impacted when driving with their partner. Thirty-eight percent say they're more likely to drive safer with their partner, compared to 23 percent of women indicating likewise.
The study also found that just 1 percent of New Zealand drivers don't give at least the legal minimum 1 metre gap when passing a cyclist on the road. This is despite 30 percent of drivers saying they feel concerned when they see a cyclist on the road and 28 percent saying they feel nervous.
Two-thirds of New Zealand drivers give between a 1-2 metre gap when passing cyclists on the road, with a further 32 percent providing more than 2 metres of space when passing.
Nextbase says they are wanting to get into the minds of New Zealand motorists to understand the relationship between cyclists and drivers.
They did the same study in Australia, where they found drivers there are equally likely to be nervous when they see cyclists. However, 27 percent of Australian drivers are frustrated when they see cyclists on the road compared to just 17 percent of New Zealand drivers.
Nextbase managing director Richard Browning says the safety of all road users should always be front of mind for drivers and sharing the road safely with cyclists is of utmost importance.
"We share the road with cyclists and they deserve to feel as protected as we do while going about their day," he says.
"We urge motorists to be patient and safe when passing other road users."
