Skip advert
Advertisement

Mobile phone use tops list of UK drivers’ biggest pet hates

Hogging lanes & not indicating also slated in our poll, but readers admit they do things they criticise other motorists for

iPhone app

Almost a third of motorists say using a mobile phone behind the wheel is the most annoying habit they witness while driving, yet a shocking 10 per cent admit to doing it, an Auto Express survey has found.

We polled nearly 10,000 of our readers to see which driving habits they disliked the most and which they’re guilty of themselves. Mobile phone usage (29 per cent) topped our frustrating traits poll, followed by failure to indicate on roundabouts and lane hogging – both leaving a quarter of motorists seeing red.

Advertisement - Article continues below

• UK road traffic is worse than ever

Despite our readers ranking mobile phone use as their biggest grievance, it was second in the list of habits they owned up to, with 10 per cent saying they’d made a call or surfed the Web on their handsets.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), told Auto Express: “Holding a mobile phone has a direct and obvious impact on driving, such as swerving across lanes, slowing down and a having a lack of concentration, so I can see why it upsets so many.”

When it was time to admit their biggest sin behind the wheel, a staggering 65 per cent of readers confessed to breaking the speed limit on a regular basis. Surprisingly, though, only four per cent said that seeing others speeding bothered them.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

• Car hacking: study shows over 100 models at risk

The latest figures from the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) show that the chance of an accident rises exponentially with speed. A 10 per cent increase in speed is estimated to up the likelihood of an accident occurring by 26 per cent.

Greig added: “Changing society’s attitude to speeding remains a huge challenge. Average speeds have been reduced in recent years, but we’re still way off people seeing speeding in a similar anti-social fashion as drink-driving. This should be the ultimate aim for Government and police campaigns.

“As ever, ‘do as I say and not as I do’ seems to sum up the primary mindset of most drivers in this instance.”

Motorway

Your driving habits

Our poll of 10,000 motorists reveals UK’s most irritating driving habits, plus those that drivers admit they’re guilty of themselves.

Most annoying driving habits

1. Using mobile phone at wheel2. Hogging middle lane on motorway3. Not indicating on roundabouts4. Throwing rubbish out of the window5. Not saying thanks when letting someone in

Most likely to do yourself

1. Breaking the speed limit2. Using mobile phone at wheel3. Not indicating on roundabouts4. Hogging middle lane on motorway5. Not saying thanks when someone lets you in

Now read our guide to save money on motoring by cutting your bills.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

‘Secret’ UK courts are fast-tracking speeding fines say magistrates
Speed camera van window
News

‘Secret’ UK courts are fast-tracking speeding fines say magistrates

New guidance from Magistrates’ Association calls for reform and aims to expose ‘secret’ Single Justice Procedure system
26 Mar 2024
Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024
Low on stock: Only 1-in-10 UK supermarkets offer electric car charging
Polestar 2 and LEVC TX connected to Sainsburys EV chargers
News

Low on stock: Only 1-in-10 UK supermarkets offer electric car charging

A survey by Zap-Map and the RAC reveals only 13% of supermarkets are equipped with EV chargers, despite a 59% increase in the past year
22 Mar 2024
Mis-sold car finance scandal: could you be due compensation?
Missold car finance
News

Mis-sold car finance scandal: could you be due compensation?

Did you buy a car on finance between April 2007 and January 2021? You could be owed thousands!
21 Mar 2024

Most Popular

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024