Drivers surveyed admit to dangerous driving behaviours
In a recent survey, 80% of motorists admitted that if they were to retake their driving test, they would ‘undoubtedly’ fail after forgetting what they were originally taught.
Another worrying statistic is that 24% of drivers admitted they could not parallel park, and 34% confessed to driving too fast.
The study, conducted by Cobra, a company specialising in driving technology, revealed that a huge number of drivers surveyed admitted to driving dangerously and forgetting some of what they learned. The survey was conducted using 2000 participants.
39% of drivers polled admitted to dangerous behaviours like steering one-handed. A further 26% said that they do not pay full attention to the road ahead as they adjust their car radio and stereo system. The most shocking statistic of all is that 15% claimed to never check their main or side mirrors when turning right or left. This comes as 84% admit they had recently given themselves a fright after making a seriously dangerous mistake while driving.
Other statistics include:
- 19% stated that they struggle when reversing into a parking space
- 9% and 12% stated they cannot do a three-point turn or park within the lines of a standard parking bay
- A third of drivers said they were unable to identify a ‘no waiting’ sign
- 12% did were confused by the meaning behind the ‘national speed limit’ sign
- 13% said they were confused by the meaning of the ‘no-overtaking’ sign
On top of this, a huge number admitted that friends and family members had refused to be their passengers over fears about their bad driving habits.
What can I do to improve my driving skills?
If you think that you need to brush up on your driving skills, it is never to late to start. The following are a list of things you can do to help improve your driving:
Limit Distractions
Keep your car in good condition and make sure that there are no visible problems. This will help you from getting distracted before, during and after you drive. Try not to adjust your radio, and use your wheel-control buttons instead if available.
Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Identify your driving style and find ways to modify it more effectively. If you tend to honk often, think about doing things differently. Honking can be seen as an aggressive driving style and cause unnecessary road-rage.
Stay Aware
Judge your surroundings and keep an eye out for any situations that may arise. For example, keep your distance and give yourself more room to break in wet or icy conditions.
Learn from Experience
Everyone makes the occasional mistake, and no one is perfect. This is why you should learn from experience. You should constantly be looking for things that you can improve on and be honest with yourself when evaluating how safe your driving is.
Follow All Traffic Rules
Following traffic rules will help avoid the possibility of accidents, and these are in place to keep everyone on the roads safe.
Stay Alert
Try to avoid driving when fatigued and look out for more vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. Be aware of any changes and additions to the Highway Code.
Plan Ahead
Don’t rush when driving, and give yourself plenty of time to get to your intended destination. Drive at a steady pace and focus on your driving. Rushing could end up in you making a mistake and could lead to an accident. Pay attention to the weather also, as this can affect driving conditions.
Driving is a skill that requires a lot of practice. It is always a good idea to refresh your knowledge or take a course to become a better driver if you feel it would help.
Useful links:
To find out more about our fuel cards click here – https://www.cambriancards.com/fuel-cards
To learn more about our telematics devices click here – https://www.cambriancards.com/telematics