Learner motorists are being targeted for intimidation by road rage ‘idiots’ according to one of Britain’s biggest driving schools.

Instructors for AA Driving School have reported a catalogue of serious bullying and aggressive incidents – including some in the West Midlands.

Now the school, which has 1,800 instructors on its book, has called on drivers to be more considerate to learners and allow them extra time on the road.

The most common forms of intimidation are tailgating and aggressive overtaking, according to AA. These can be accompanied by shouted threats, horn blowing, racial abuse, rude gestures – and, in extreme cases, even car ramming.

Road rage incidents reported by the schools instructors include:

* A driver who shunted a driving school car into a wall to force his way past, leaving the female pupil badly shaken

* A group of football fans who shouted racist abuse at a learner and draped a flag over the windscreen, almost causing an accident;

* A gang who forced open the back doors while a learner was doing manoeuvres and tried to steal contents from the back seat

* A car which crossed onto the wrong side of the road and started racing straight towards a learner.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Driving School, said: “Most drivers are patient and courteous and will give way, allow extra time and space and even applaud a successful manoeuvre.

“But an idiotic few see the L-plate as their own licence to harass learners with actions that are cowardly, bullying and sometimes downright dangerous. It’s a tiny minority who cause problems and it shouldn’t put people off learning to drive, as this is an important skill for life.

“Our instructors teach pupils to anticipate poor drivers and understand situations that might wind them up. And, where possible, they use offenders’ behaviour as a lesson in how not to drive.”