PixabayWe’ve all encountered someone who’s a menace on the road – and if you’ve not, then it’s you. Out of all the people who are the cause behind our road rage, BMW drivers have been voted the worst.
Research carried out by WMB Logistics surveyed 2,267 British drivers who were all 18 or older, and all those involved owned a full UK driver’s license as well as their own car, ensuring they’d had their fair share of experience cruising the streets of Britain.
The participants were all asked about how safe they felt on the road, as well as their feelings towards their fellow road users as part of the survey, which is part of an ongoing study into Brits’ attitudes towards road safety.
PixabayFirst off, those taking part were asked if they consider themselves to be a safe driver, to which – unsurprisingly – 100 per cent responded ‘yes’. I think everyone has their own definition of ‘safe’ when it comes to driving.
For some, ‘safe’ is simply successfully not rear-ending another car at traffic lights or stop signs, despite speeding up behind them and slamming the breaks on at the last second.
While for others, ‘safe’ is having well-rounded knowledge of every road they’re travelling on, enabling them to gradually decelerate from a good hundred metres back when necessary, before coming to a cautious and highly anticipated halt.
Despite the participants’ confidence in how safe of a driver they were, two in three respondents (67 per cent) admitted they were also guilty of speeding, undertaking, not using their indicators, or using some other dangerous driving tactic within the past 12 months.
The research also found out which drivers were considered to be the safest on the road. Lorry drivers took top spot, due to how much time they spend driving, with 22 per cent of votes.
Parents were runners up with 21 per cent, their cautiousness thought to be fuelled by the fact they carry such precious cargo (their kids, if you didn’t quite get that).
Delivery drivers, coach drivers, and new drivers also make up the rest of the top five.
However, when it comes to the worst people on the road, it seems bad drivers gravitate towards certain types of cars. Or maybe it’s the cars that make them bad drivers? Manufacturers should really look into that.
The BMW 1 Series was found to be the car most commonly associated with unsafe drivers, followed by Vauxhall Corsas, the Ford C-Max, Volkswagen Polos, and Audi A4s.
My very polite mum used to drive a Vauxhall Corsa, but I can hardly imagine her tearing up the streets and causing havoc. Although I suppose she could’ve hidden any unsafe practices whenever she was carrying her EXTREMELY precious cargo (me).
As well as the type of car unsafe drivers usually use, the participants were asked what gender and age range were the worst for dangerous driving.
Basically if you’re a BMW 1 Series driving male between the ages of 25 and 35, you don’t come across great in these results.
Finally, participants were asked how they tend to react to a potentially unsafe driver.
58 per cent of the respondents said they continue driving as they were, but remain vigilant of what the other driver is doing, while 30 per cent said they would slow down to allow plenty of distance between the two vehicles.
A spokesperson for WMB Logistics advised:
It’s great to see that lorry drivers are considered to be the safest on the road, and we particularly pride ourselves on having the best drivers.
That being said, if you see someone on the road you consider to be unsafe, give them plenty of space, slow down if you need to – where safe to do so – and stay calm.
I guess BMW owners have some points to prove after this research – be safe drivers!
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.