A recent survey conducted by Isuzu UK revealed a concerning trend among British motorists: nearly one in six (15%) admit to being terrible drivers, while a shocking 4% consider themselves a danger on the road.
Cardiff Drivers Worst in the UK
The survey identified Cardiff as having the highest proportion of drivers who acknowledge their poor driving skills (35%), followed by London (33%) and Liverpool (31%). In contrast, drivers from Stoke-on-Trent exhibited the most confidence, with none admitting to being bad drivers.
Common Causes of Poor Driving
The primary factors contributing to poor driving, as identified by respondents, include:
- Excessive traffic (36%)
- Inadequate parking spaces (24%)
- Distractions (20%)
- Narrow roads (17%)
- Boredom (14%)
- Lack of blind spot detection (13%)
- Attention monitoring sensors (12%)
Vehicle-Related Issues
A significant number of drivers blamed their vehicles for their poor driving, citing factors such as:
- Lack of forward collision warning (11%)
- Dislike of their vehicle (6%)
- Ineffective reversing cameras (3%)
Desire for Advanced Safety Features
Over a third of respondents (32%) expressed a wish for their cars to be equipped with more advanced safety features,while 36% believed a larger vehicle would enhance their safety.
Accidents and Nervous Driving
The survey also highlighted the prevalence of accidents caused by lack of concentration, with men being more likely to admit to such incidents (61%) compared to women (47%). Additionally, 20% of drivers reported feeling nervous when passengers were present, and one in five (19%) had friends or family who refused to ride with them due to their driving skills.
Road Rage and Lack of Driving Skills
More than half (59%) of respondents had experienced being shouted at or subjected to rude gestures by other motorists or pedestrians due to their driving. Gen-Z and Millennials were particularly likely to encounter such behavior (67%).
Common driving skills that respondents struggled with included:
- Parallel parking (38%)
- Checking tire pressure and coolant levels (32%)
- Parking in a bay (19%)
- Adhering to speed limits (19%)
- Reversing around corners (17%)
- Remembering to turn on lights (15%)
- Checking mirrors before driving (11%)
Dangerous Driving Habits
A concerning 11% of drivers admitted to not knowing how to drive a manual car, while 10% frequently forgot to look out for cyclists and motorcyclists. Even more alarmingly, 7% confessed to neglecting to check for pedestrians.
Overall, the survey revealed a concerning lack of driving proficiency among British motorists, emphasizing the need for improved driver education and awareness of road safety.
