A new study has found that more than a quarter of UK drivers do not feel safe on the road.
According to Forbes Advisor, the price comparison and financial guidance platform, 61% of respondents said they had been in at least one traffic collision or accident since they started driving.
The survey found drivers list lack of road maintenance (52%), as well as cyclists and pedestrians (33%) among their main reasons for feeling unsafe while driving. Other principal reasons for feeling unsafe include other drivers (60%) and weather conditions (43%).
While a quarter of drivers who have been in a traffic accident considered their own driving to be at fault, only six per cent of drivers consider their driving to be unsafe.
When it comes to dangerous behaviour on the road, over a third (34%) of drivers believe that traffic laws do not adequately punish those who drive dangerously.
Kevin Pratt, car insurance expert at Forbes Advisor, said: “Our survey hits on the fascinating aspect of driver psychology: most people think they are average or above average drivers, and most people blame other drivers for dangerous driving conditions. There is definitely a disconnect between how good we think we are, and how good we actually are.
“Over 90% of road traffic accidents are caused by human error. That’s why car insurance companies talk about ‘at fault’ and ‘no fault’ claims. As cars acquire more safety features such as autonomous emergency braking and lane drift management, we should hopefully see the numbers reduce. But, sadly, it seems unlikely they will be eliminated completely, even when driving is fully automated, so it looks like we’ll always need insurance protection.”
