Skip to main content

New driver study reveals Britain’s ten worst driving habits

According to a study by business driving expert, the Fuelcard Company, which questioned 1,000 drivers across the UK more than half of British drivers (52 per cent) have picked up some potentially dangerous driving habits. These include going too fast or too slow, texting while driving, using the phone or hands-free, eating or smoking at the wheel, driving too close to other vehicles, throwing rubbish out of the window, hogging the middle lane and checking phone notifications. Interestingly, more than
September 23, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
According to a study by business driving expert, the Fuelcard Company, which questioned 1,000 drivers across the UK more than half of British drivers (52 per cent) have picked up some potentially dangerous driving habits.

These include going too fast or too slow, texting while driving, using the phone or hands-free, eating or smoking at the wheel, driving too close to other vehicles, throwing rubbish out of the window, hogging the middle lane and checking phone notifications.

Interestingly, more than a third of drivers claim to only practice these bad habits when they are in their car alone. However, despite confessing to exhibiting some of these bad habits, more than one-in-four (27 per cent) of UK drivers claim to be the best driver they know and 37 per cent say they are a better driver than their partner.

The report also asked drivers about road rage with 38 per cent admitting they felt they suffered from it. The DVLA currently lists 45.5 million drivers in Great Britain, equating to 17 million drivers suffering from road rage.

Other bad practices identified in the study include driving without shoes (13 per cent), singing while driving (31 per cent) and shockingly, committing sexual acts (8 per cent).

Richard Brown, Commercial Director at The Fuelcard Company said: Whether you’re driving for personal or business reasons, bad habits can take a driver’s attention off the road meaning they can miss potential hazards.

“Some of the habits we identified seem relatively innocent, but we’d urge people to pay attention next time they’re behind the wheel to see exactly how many of these habits they’re guilty of without even realising it – they may be surprised. We’ve conducted this study to stress the importance of paying proper attention when you’re driving, to ultimately make sure our roads are a safe place to be.”

Related Content

  • June 9, 2025
    The origin story of ITS World Congress
    As the ITS industry decamps to Atlanta in August, a question: who came up with the idea of an ITS World Congress in the first place? Adam Hill delves into recent history with one man who was actually there - ITS legend Eric Sampson
  • May 20, 2013
    Visteon cockpit concept learns the driver's habit
    A cockpit concept that offers advice on a different route when there are delays on the usual road, or adjusts the cabin temperature based on the driver’s preferences and the outside temperature, has been developed by US automotive supplier Visteon. Habit offers these solutions and others by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver an enhanced driving experience. Visteon's Human Bayesian Intelligence Technology (Habit) system employs machine learning algorithms that are cognisant of the specific
  • January 24, 2012
    Improve and increase mass transit systems to minimise congestion
    Rather looking to solve congestion by spreading the load, perhaps we need to look at concentrating it. Michael L. Sena writes. We humans were made to walk and run at embarrassingly slow speeds by comparison with other, more fleet-footed organisms. The sea is not our natural habitat and we were definitely not designed to fly unaided. Nevertheless, humankind has evolved a method of living during the past century that is dependent on transporting its members over very long distances during relatively short per
  • May 29, 2013
    Israel aspires to ITS-led future
    Shay Soffer, Chief Scientist with the Israel National Road Safety Authority, talks to Jason Barnes about his country’s current ITS outlook and how he sees this developing in the future. Israel ranks alongside countries such as the US and France in the road safety stakes, with an average 7.1 deaths per billion kilometres driven. But at that point the similarities end, as the country’s overriding issue is pedestrian safety. This is driven by several factors, including being a relatively small country where pe