British motorists streak ahead in Road Behaviour Survey

by Gill Montia

Story link: British motorists streak ahead in Road Behaviour Survey

Research from AXA has revealed that UK motorists feel safer than those in neighbouring countries across the Channel.

In a Road Behaviour Survey that questioned drivers in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, 92% of British drivers said they felt safe on their country’s roads, compared with a European average of 72%.

In addition, 41% of British drivers believed law enforcement on UK roads was stricter than elsewhere, compared with a European average of 37%.

Three out of four UK respondents thought they were good drivers, with two-thirds convinced that their skills surpass those of motorists in other European countries.

Different attitudes towards hazardous activities when driving came to light in the research; 92% of Brits regard answering a mobile phone without a hands free set as dangerous, compared with an average 85% across other European countries.

Ninety-five per cent of British drivers labelled driving too fast and too close to the vehicle ahead as dangerous, compared with the European average of 90%.

On being drunk behind the wheel, 92% of UK drivers saw a red alert, compared with 85% of other European drivers.

The findings are supported by the fact that the UK has one of the lowest road death rates in Europe, with 5.4 people per 10,000 killed on the roads. Germany does better and Switzerland only slightly worse.

Finally, respondents to the survey indicated that they would welcome greater automated controls in their vehicles that could add to road safety.