Ty vole! Index reveals Czech drivers' favorite swear words

Someone cuts you off in traffic. You’re stuck behind a driver going way below the speed limit. The car behind you has its high beams on and won’t get off your bumper. 

What’s your go-to expletive in these situations? Be honest. We’ve all been there.    

According to a recent survey by the British dashcam company Nextbase, around 80 percent of drivers on the roadways here admit to swearing.  

At the top of the list for frustrated Czech drivers? The D-word – “debil” (or “moron”) – followed closely by “ty vole” (holy sh*t), “hovado” (“brute”) and “kreténi” (cretin), the survey results show.

Pavel Greiner, owner of Autoškola King, says aggression on the motorway never pays. The driving school stresses the importance of using a “human approach” when operating a motor vehicle. Students are taught to respect the speed limits and never to drive aggressively. 

If you feel your blood beginning to boil while on the road, it’s OK to let loose some choice words. After all, psychologists readily admit that swearing is a normal way of releasing tension. But, Greiner says, keep your windows rolled up while doing so.     

Greiner points out that if your driver’s license is revoked due to dangerous behavior on Czech motorways, you will now have to complete a mandatory therapeutic program for aggressive drivers to get it reinstated. These programs, introduced by the Czech government earlier this year, will set you back CZK 11,000.    

Just 12 percent of the more than 1,000 respondents to the Nextbase survey claim they never curse when behind the wheel. Meanwhile, a growing number of drivers worry about butting heads with aggressive motorists on the road.

Greiner’s advice? Don’t engage. If someone’s honking and flipping you off in the rearview mirror, remain calm and carry on. They are the ones having the problem, not you.