UK Insurance News

As any driver from the UK who has driven abroad can testify, Britons are generally among the most law abiding and safety conscious of motorists in Europe.  I guess we all knew that already, but research from AXA insurance in its annual survey of driver behaviour across ten European countries has confirmed the UK as home to the most conscientious motorists.

The research takes into account eleven different driving behaviours, some required by law and others considered to be courteous or sensible. The survey reveals that motorists in the UK are less likely to drink and drive than our European neighbours, only 4% admitting to the crime in the UK, compared to a European average of 21% and 40% in Luxembourg.

Britons are more likely to wear a seat belt, but less likely to use a mobile phone while driving than Europeans in general. The UK  motorist also has the lowest rate of speeding, jumping traffic lights and crossing a solid white line to overtake.

So just where does the average British motorist fall down?

One of the main criticisms of the UK driver is that they do not take regular ‘rest breaks’ when driving for more than two hours, an area that only motorists from Germany and Luxembourg can compete with. UK drivers are also liable to ‘undertake’ more than any of their European counterparts other than the Germans and Portuguese.