A recent study by Forbes Advisor, the price comparison and financial guidance platform, asking British drivers how safe they feel on the road provides new insight on what motorists consider the greatest threat to their safety on the road.
Over a quarter (27%) of UK drivers say they do not feel safe on the road. While most claim to either be an average driver or an above average driver, over one in 10 (13%) of those who said they felt unsafe consider themselves to be a below average driver, versus only 4% of those who say they do feel safe.
What’s more, six in 10 (61%) reported they had been in at least one traffic collision or accident since they started driving but just over a quarter (26%) say it was their fault.
The survey found drivers list lack of road maintenance (52%), as well as cyclists and pedestrians (33%) among their main reasons for feeling unsafe while driving. Other principal reasons for feeling unsafe include other drivers (60%) and weather conditions (43%).
Source: Forbes Advisor
While a quarter of drivers who have been in a traffic accident considered their own driving to be at fault, fewer than one in 10 (6%) of drivers consider their driving to be unsafe.
Interestingly, while nearly four in 10 (39%) drivers over 55 believe there isn’t sufficient punishment for dangerous driving, this age group were most likely (24%) to say that they do not know enough about current traffic laws.
Despite hatchbacks (41%) being the most common car type, the research shows that SUV and sport car or convertible drivers are cited most often for their dangerous driving, being identified by almost a quarter (23%) of respondents.
When it comes to dangerous behaviour on the road, over a third (34%) of drivers believe that traffic laws do not adequately punish those who drive dangerously.
Even if you consider yourself a very competent driver, other factors outside your control could lead to a traffic collision or accident, so make sure you have the best car insurance for your needs.
Kevin Pratt, car insurance expert at Forbes Advisor said: “Accidents happen – but when they happen on the roads, they can cause injury and death, so anything we can learn about how to reduce them is welcome. And understanding why drivers feel at risk is a key part of changing driver behaviour to make the roads safer for everyone.
“Our survey hits on the fascinating aspect of driver psychology: most people think they are average or above average drivers, and most people blame other drivers for dangerous driving conditions. There is definitely a disconnect between how good we think we are, and how good we actually are.
“Over 90% of road traffic accidents are caused by human error*. That’s why car insurance companies talk about ‘at fault’ and ‘no fault’ claims. As cars acquire more safety features such as autonomous emergency braking and lane drift management, we should hopefully see the numbers reduce. But, sadly, it seems unlikely they will be eliminated completely, even when driving is fully automated, so it looks like we’ll always need insurance protection.”
