ROAD rage incidents of the worst sort are thankfully things which do not happen too often. However, Ilkley seems to suffer from an altogether more subtle form of road-related angst which manages to hold every bit as much aggression but thankfully so far without serious incident.

Anyone keen to study Wharfedale's own road phenomenon should maybe consider taking their place next to one of Ilkley's pedestrian crossings, particularly those stressfully under-construction ones in the town centre, or sample the intricate courtesies of local supermarket car parks.

There is a worrying trend among local motorists who have obviously decided that the normal rules and conventions on the road should apply to everyone but them. It's not limited to the traditionally aggressive 'boy racers' either, but very often respectable people, not unusually a parent with children in the back.

One of the favourite tricks is to 'fail to see' a pedestrian waiting to cross the road or actually on a crossing. This is not a case of seeing the pedestrian too late and not being able to stop at the risk of causing an accident to the following cars. The driver will invariably be making a point of not seeing the pedestrian, sometimes even turning the head away to look at the opposite side of the road.

Another favourite among local drivers is the assumption that a supermarket car park is a motoring paradise without any rules, in which no-one else should be allowed any rights. Hapless shoppers who dare to walk on the crossing areas are often paid very little attention and in some cases are even expected to 'give way' to impatient drivers.

Of course it is always the fault of the pedestrians, other drivers, the designers of the road layout, or indeed anyone except the aggressive driver him or herself.

A little courtesy costs nothing.