But as I observed in my previous comment this does not appear to be unique to people from this country (observe also backpackers from various countries doing their best to knock people over on the tube with huge backpackers).
Not to mention crowding around the end of the escalator. I do put that down to "foreign country self awareness loss syndrome", something that appears to affect all nationalities to some extent...
I think we're the only country (apart from Japan, possibly) that has an expectation that you're able to walk on one side of the escalator. I wonder if that has anything to do with it? It forces you to use a position that's not great for everyone (pulling it alongside you is easier).
The easiest way, I find (in the UK), it to roll the luggage with your
left hand, so it's directly behind you - it then fits neatly on the step behind you and leaves your right hand free for the handrail. The mistakes I commonly see are either people holding the case with their right hand, and being unable to grab the handrail (leading to either unsteady person or unstable case if it's released) or trying to maneouvre it in front - fine for getting on the escalator, but a nightmare getting off.
Or maybe it's drunkenness. Every incident I've seen with falling luggage on escalators has involved someone half-cut.