We’re all guilty of the occasional bad driving habit, and we’ll freely own up to the less incriminating ones, such as singing along to the radio, spending the car park money on cigarettes, and squeezing the extra kid or two into the back seat on the way back from a local football match.
But what about the habits we don’t admit to?
In a recent survey (and following mild air freshener-related torture), 60% of people questioned admitted to being distracted by changing a CD or radio station. 40% said they frequently drove with one hand. Both these habits make driving considerably more dangerous, for both the driver and other road users. Both these habits are easily avoided.
But these aren’t the only habits UK drivers indulge in. One third of those questioned said they ate or drank whilst driving, and one in five have driven when they are tired.
It’s easy to complain that guidelines about driving ‘perfectly’ and when ‘perfectly awake’ are impractical, and we’d have to agree – sometimes, tired or not, you have to get home. But there’s being a bit weary and then there’s eyes-drooping-at-the-wheel. You need to know the difference – and know when enough is enough.
What’s more, despite the recent changes in law, over 10% of drivers admitted to texting or using social network sites whilst driving.
Is it any surprise, then, to find that the last result of the survey found that 67% of us don’t think we’d pass our practical test if we took it again? The figures are higher for under-24s, which should provide a small measure of relief – at least they realise their driving isn’t as good as it could be. It’s the 33% of adults who think they drive just fine which worries us.
Thankfully, car companies are constantly developing technologies which overcome our habits. Extra airbags, Active City Stop (where the car detects if there is something stationary in front of you, and brakes automatically) and voice control settings (which allow you to change the radio, adjust the heating or make a call simply by speaking) are all rated as desirable by the majority of drivers, and they’re all likely to be fitted as standard to cars over the coming years.
It’s not the ideal solution, but given our attitudes to driving are unlikely to change overnight, they’re a step in the right direction.
Driving test news and updates from The Driving Tests.co.uk.
