What Drives You To Fear?

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Nearly half of all motorists (46 per cent) say tailgaters are their worst motorway fear, followed by heavy goods vehicles overtaking them (22 per cent) according to the RAC Foundation today (16), launching the results of an NOP Automotive survey as part of National Motorway Month.

National Motorway Month is a joint initiative by the RAC Foundation, Auto Express Magazine, IAM and BSM to encourage safer driving on our motorways. The campaign will run through the busy holiday month of August.

When asked what their biggest fears were on motorways respondents cited:

• 46 per cent - motorists who drive too close


• 22 per cent - HGV's overtaking


• 15 per cent - motorists driving too fast


• 5 per cent - getting pulled over by the traffic police for speeding


• 5 per cent per cent - joining/leaving the motorway


• 4 per cent - had no fear.

A survey of 15,000 vehicles for National Motorway Month last year found that 40 per cent of motorists travel too close to the car in front on motorways and more than 70 per cent of those motorists travelling in clusters were following too closely. Figures also show that trucks are involved in 22 per cent of fatal accidents but make up just 7 per cent of traffic.

Only five per cent of people fear getting pulled over by traffic police for speeding, suggesting that either we are a nation of law abiding motorists or that there is a perception speeders won't get caught due to the declining traffic police presence on our roads - and in particular on motorways.

When asked about road safety problems specific to motorways:

• 31 per cent of motorists think drug/drink drivers are the biggest road safety problem on motorways


• 13 per cent think drivers on hand held mobile phones


• 12 per cent think tired drivers


• 9 per cent think speeding drivers


• 6 per cent think congestion/volume of traffic


• 5 per cent think inexperienced drivers

Motorway month research has shown that there is very little information on the actual causes of accidents on motorways, and the groups involved in the campaign are now urging Government to review the mechanisms for recording accident data. What is known however includes:

• Close following is a contributory factor in more than one third of all personal injury accidents on the motorway network.


• Research commissioned by the Government found that falling asleep at the wheel accounts for up to 20 per cent of crashes on motorways or similar roads, and as many as one in ten of all crashes on Britain's roads.


• Six per cent of all fatal motorway accidents are caused by the sudden failure of under inflated tyres.


• More than a third of accidents are caused by lane changes or unintentional lane departures.


• Two thirds of rear end collisions are caused by inattention.


• Research has also shown that with the exception of motorway sites, accident rates are lower during periods of heavy congestion than during uncongested conditions. For motorway sites, however, the accident rate in congested conditions was nearly twice the rate of those in uncongested conditions.

In France it was found that lack of attention (including fatigue and sleepiness) was a principal causes of fatal accidents on motorways in one in three accidents, speed and dangerous driving in one in four accidents, dangerous overtaking and driving too close in one in 15 accidents and alcohol, drugs or medication in one in five accidents.

Edmund King, executive director of RAC Foundation, said:

"Motorists are right to fear the tailgater on motorways. These drivers put their own lives and those of others on the line by driving too close."

"Sudden lane changes, often without indication, are causing a third of accidents. All drivers need to be more considerate in their motorway driving style. Too many drivers do not use their mirrors, do not signal and do not pay attention on motorways."

Other NOP Automotive survey results:

• 31 per cent of people in the Anglia region fear heavy goods vehicles overtaking most, compared to only 15 per cent of people in the West Country.


• 54 per cent of people in Granada and 55 per cent in the West Country fear motorists driving too close, compared to 31 per cent in Tyne Tees region


• 25 per cent of cabriolet or coupe drivers fear getting pulled over by traffic police for speeding, compared to three per cent of 4x4 drivers.


• 19 per cent of drivers under the age of 35 think inexperienced drivers are the biggest road safety problem on motorways.


• Half of people in the West Country think drink/drug drivers are the biggest road safety problem on motorways, compared to 16 per cent in the Tyne Tees region.


• 19 per cent of drivers in Yorkshire think speeding drivers are the biggest road safety problem compared to only 5 per cent in Harlech region.


• 31 per cent of Peugeot drivers think tired drivers are the biggest problem compared to only 5 per cent of Honda drivers.

Research Material:
Results from an NOP Automotive survey of 517 drivers conducted on 18-19 June 2005. For further regional results please contact the RAC Foundation on 0141 226 3305

The RAC Foundation for Motoring is an independent body established to protect and promote the interests of UK motorists. Motoring organisation RAC supports its seven million customers with breakdown cover and a wide range of other motoring solutions. The views of each organisation should not be attributed to the other.

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