Jonathan Fry: Lack of Courteousy Puts Drivers at Risk

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Lack of Courteousy Puts Drivers at Risk

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UK drivers are putting themselves at risk by not being courteous on the roads, according to new research from Bank of Scotland Vehicle Finance.

The results reveal that 17 per cent of drivers don’t drive a safe distance apart from the driver in front and nearly 30 per cent rarely take the correct lane when approaching a roundabout.

Other startling results show that 61% of drivers regularly break the 70 mph speed limit on the motorway and 10 per cent are increasing the risk of serious accidents by never moving out of the way for oncoming traffic which is joining the motorway.

The news supports the Government’s latest campaign to introduce a series of measures to improve driver safety on the motorway including a national better lane discipline promotion which uses a variety of signs to ask drivers four questions; Have I finished overtaking? Is the road ahead clear? Could I move to the left? Am I holding up traffic behind me by staying in this lane?

Despite admitting to their own driving faux pas, those questioned were also quick to highlight the annoying habits of fellow drivers! Achieving a ranking of 8.8 out of 10, tailgating is seen as the most dangerous driving habit followed by cutting in on other road users (8.3) and bad lane discipline (7.7). Surprisingly driving too slowly (6.5) and speeding (7.3) were ranked the lowest.

Graham Hale, Head of Corporate Business at Bank of Scotland Vehicle Finance, comments: “Results published earlier this year by the Bank highlighted that since 2002 business mileage had increased by 20 per cent. Employers should be questioning whether increased time behind the wheel leads to bad driving habits which in turn leaves an employer and others on the road at risk.”

The new research supports Bank of Scotland Vehicle Finance’s view that employers still need to do more when it comes to monitoring drivers. Earlier this year research from the Bank highlighted:

68% of employers have never checked their employees’ driving licence or if they did it was only when they first joined the company
84% have not given employees a driver training policy despite 49% of drivers saying they would find it beneficial
51% of companies do not penalise drivers who cause accidents

Over 1,600 company car drivers were surveyed as part of a major report Company Cars – The Drivers’ Perspective by Bank of Scotland Vehicle Finance.

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