Britain’s Worst Motorists Revealed!

The Shocking Confessions of UK Motorists – 4% Admit Being a Danger to Others!

Brace yourself, because the truth about British driving is more alarming than an Audi RS6 tailgating you an the M40. According to a new survey commissioned by Isuzu, as many as 15% of UK motorists freely admit they’re terrible drivers. And if that wasn’t bad enough, a shocking 4% confess they’re an actual danger on the roads! You know what, if you’re in that 4%, maybe it’s time to hang up the keys and take up walking. Better yet, stay at home. Just saying.

The research, which surveyed 2,000 British drivers in March 2024, also revealed that the worst offenders are clustered in certain cities. Cardiff takes the top spot with 35% of drivers admitting they’re awful behind the wheel. London, unsurprisingly, isn’t far behind at 33% (because driving in London is frankly dicing with disaster on a daily basis at this point), and Liverpool comes in third at 31%.

“A shocking 4% of UK drivers admit they’re an actual danger on the roads!”

Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent drivers believe they’re practically perfect. Not a single driver there owned up to being bad at driving. How’s that then? It’s not that far from Liverpool, so what’s the secret Stoke? Some sort of parallel-universe bubble of impeccable road skills?

What’s Going Wrong on our Roads?

So, what are we all doing wrong? According to the survey, it’s not just lack of skill that’s making us terrible drivers; it’s distractions. Over half (54%) of British drivers have had an accident because they weren’t paying attention. And it’s the usual suspects: phones, in-car tech, daydreaming about Love Island…

36% blame the sheer number of cars on the road, which is fair enough if you’ve ever tried to navigate the M25 during rush hour.

“Nearly one in five are so bad at driving that friends and family refuse to get in the car with them.”

But here’s the kicker – 32% of drivers say they’re wishing for more advanced car features to help them out. So, are we talking full-blown robot chauffeurs? Probably. This is where the push for autonomous cars comes from, people! Drivers who’d prefer the car did all the work, while they sit back, scroll through TikTok, and ignore the world around them.

They Want to be Better, No Really, They Do!

It’s not all doom and gloom though. A huge 62% of drivers actually want to improve, which is a nice thought, until you realise 61% don’t think they’d pass their driving test again. Especially those over 60, with 63% doubting they’d make it through another round of three-point-turns and emergency braking manoeuvre. It’s okay, they’ve got that 5-star Euro NCAP-rated SUV to protect them; too bad for the rest of us!

“12% of drivers actually blame their car for their terrible driving!”

Excuses, Excuses!

When it comes to why people are such bad drivers, the excuses get even better. Too many cars on the road (36%), parking spaces that are way too small (24%), and, shockingly, 14% admit they just get bored behind the wheel.

That’s right, folks, driving is too dull these days. So much for the excitement of the open road, eh? Maybe modern cars are too comfy, too easy. The driving experience has been reduced to a dreary hum as we cruise around in smart chambers, longing for the days of wrestling with a gnarly gear change.

“Over half of British drivers have had an accident because they weren’t paying attention.”

And the tech? Oh, the tech. 13% complain that their cars don’t have blind-spot detection, while 12% are craving attention-monitoring sensors – really, you want your car to watch you the whole time? Listen, if you need a sensor to tell you when you’ve stopped paying attention to driving, it’s probably time to pull over, grab a cuppa, and take a break. Or, you know, actually pay attention – novel concept, I know.

Blame the Car?

12% of drivers actually blame their car for their terrible driving. Somehow, it’s the car’s fault they can’t parallel park.

But get this, 6% say their bad driving is because just hate their cars altogether. My advice? If you hate your car, sell it and get one you like. Your relationship with your car should be harmonious, not a battle of wills.

Also, 11% are upset about not having forward collision warning technology. Well, we’ve all got built-in forward collision detection – it’s called your eyes! Maybe try using them?

The Scariest Bit: Accidents and Aggression

This is where it gets serious. Over half (54%) of drivers have had an accident because they weren’t paying attention. And men admit they’re more likely to be distracted at the wheel (61% compared to 47% of women). Then there’s the 19% who have friends and family who refuse to get into a car with them. That’s right, nearly one in five of you are so bad at driving that your mates would rather walk.

If you hate your car, sell it and get one you like. Your relationship with your car should be harmonious, not a battle of wills.

Let’s not even get into the fact that 59% of drivers have been shouted at or given the finger by another motorist or pedestrian due to their ‘creative’ driving habits. Gen Z and Millennials lead the way here with 67% of them being on the receiving end of road rage. Although, I reckon it’s us Gen Xers doing the shouting – c’mon guys, behave yourselves! Bit of empathy, yeah? I covered this in my other video on driving anxiety.

Lack of Techniques, Knowledge and… Common Sense?

Parallel parking is a big pain point. 38% of drivers struggle with it, which is understandable. Let’s be honest, I’m not great at it either. Sometimes it’s just easier to keep driving than attempt to squeeze into that tight space with onlookers ready to judge your every move. After all, to master it is to understand the “Nonholonomic System,” which I can barely pronounce, let alone comprehend, being part of Newtonian Mechanics. So if even Sir Isaac couldn’t manage it, who are we to feel bad about being unable to parallel park?

“If you need a sensor to tell you when you’ve stopped paying attention to driving, maybe it’s time for a tea break!”

Then there’s the 32% who have no idea how to check things like tyre pressure or coolant levels. Mate, go to a petrol station, the air pump’s right there. As for coolant, just don’t mess with a hot radiator cap – unless you’re after an impromptu face – melting experience.

And, of course, a shocking 10% of drivers confess they forget to look out for cyclists and motorcyclists. Worse still, 7% forget pedestrians even exist. Yeah those foot-steppers are overrated anyhow.

So What Now?

Well, a whopping 62% of British drivers say they want to be better. That’s a start, I suppose. There are loads of books, guides, videos and even advanced driving courses, like the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), that’ll teach you how to read the road like a pro and be a safer, more focused driver. And a certificate from them might even lower your insurance premiums. Win-win!

British drivers, we’re not all terrible, but a worrying chunk of us are. With the distractions piling up and modern cars doing more of the work, it’s no surprise that driving skills are on the decline. So if you’re feeling a bit shaky behind the wheel, maybe it’s time to brush up on those skills before we all end up in bumper-to-bumper chaos.

And hey, if you’re one of the lucky few who are good and empathetic drivers, keep it up! The roads need more of you. But if you’re not, here’s the real question – what are you going to do about it? Before it’s too late!

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