A recent survey conducted by Isuzu UK has given us insight into how UK motorists view their own driving skills and, as it turns out, we are terrible! Well, that’s according to 15% of the drivers polled who admitted that they are bad drivers. To make things worse, 4% of drivers in the survey actually considered themselves a danger on the road!
Drivers in Cardiff, London, and Liverpool had the highest percentages of self-confessed bad drivers with 35%, 33%, and 31% of drivers in the cities owning up to their poor driving skills.
On the flip side to this, drivers in Stoke-on-Trent have the highest confidence in their driving abilities, as none admitted to being bad behind the wheel. Other cities like Nottingham (2%), Cambridge (3%), and Edinburgh (4%) also rated themselves highly in terms of driving safety.
The survey, which explored various factors contributing to these opinions, found that the challenges of modern roads play a significant role. Over half of drivers (54%) admitted they had been involved in an accident due to distractions, with 36% blaming overcrowded roads, and 32% wishing their vehicles had more advanced safety features.
Interestingly, 62% of those surveyed expressed a desire to improve their driving skills, with 61% believing they wouldn’t pass their driving test if they had to take it again. This concern is greater among drivers over the age of 60, where 63% doubt their ability to pass a modern driving test.
The study also highlighted that many drivers struggle with basic driving tasks. Around 38% find parallel parking difficult, while a third (32%) lack knowledge of car maintenance, such as checking tyre pressure or coolant levels. Other common struggles include parking in a bay (19%), driving at the speed limit (19%), and reversing around corners (17%).
“With over 50 million drivers in Great Britain, it is worrying to think that as many as 7.5 million consider themselves bad drivers. It’s clear from the research that UK motorists face many challenges on all journeys, from smaller roads, tight parking bays and even their own vehicle. With one in three saying that having a vehicle with all the mod cons like blind spot detection and attention monitoring sensors would help them to be a better driver.
Isuzu D-Max’s Advanced Driver Assist System takes pick-up truck safety to a whole new level thanks to rear cross traffic alert, lane departure prevention system and autonomous emergency braking so you’ll never have to worry behind the wheel again. This fantastic safety doesn’t happen by accident.”
George Wallis, Head of Marketing at Isuzu UK
Beyond their own skills, many drivers feel unsafe in their vehicles due to outdated technology. One-third of drivers in the survey said they wish their cars had modern features like blind spot detection and attention monitoring systems to help them drive more safely. 36% also said that driving a larger car would make them feel safer on the road.
The survey also found that men were more likely than women to admit they had been in an accident due to a lack of concentration (61% vs. 47%), and younger generations (the widely discussed Gen Z and Millennials) reported being on the receiving end of road rage more often than other groups (67%).
CITIES WITH THE WORST DRIVERS, ACCORDING TO BRITISH DRIVERS:
1. Cardiff – 35%,
2. London – 33%,
3. Liverpool – 31%,
4. Plymouth – 15%,
5. Leeds – 12%,
6. Birmingham – 9%,
7. Leicester – 9%,
8. Oxford – 9%,
9. Sheffield – 8%,
10. Brighton – 7%.
This research of 2,000 Britons was commissioned by Isuzu and conducted by Perspectus Global during March 2024.
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