‘Risky driving and failure to respect the rules’ are on the increase across Europe, according to a survey of 10,000 drivers published today (1 April).
The annual survey*, carried out by IPSOS on behalf of VINCI Autoroutes Foundation for Responsible Driving*, looks at the behaviour of drivers from 10 European countries and their perception of themselves and others at the wheel.
It suggests that British drivers are the fourth most pessimistic of the nations surveyed, in terms of believing that the number of road fatalities will fall in the coming years (51%, against an overall result of 55%).
Across Europe, drivers believe that the main causes of fatal accidents on the roads to be alcohol or drugs (62%), inattention, such as using a mobile phone (53%), followed by speeding (44%).
In contrast to the overall results, those surveyed in the UK believed that not paying attention, for example using a mobile phone while driving, is the main cause of fatal road accidents (59%).
Those surveyed in the UK considered sending text messages while driving to be significantly more risky than those from the nine other European countries (UK 42%, overall 29%).
91% of those surveyed across Europe admitted to exceeding the speed limit by a few m/hour, an increase in all countries polled in 2014, most notably the UK (92%, +3) Sweden (95%, +8 points) and Belgium (94%, +8 points).
When it comes to mobile phone use, the survey suggests British drivers are more cautious that their European counterparts. 37% of British drivers said they use a phone with a hands-free kit, compared with 67% of Greeks, and 65% of Poles and Italians.
And 16% of British drivers admit to using a phone without a hands-free kit, compared to 59% of Poles and 48% of Swedish drivers.
Footnote
The 10 countries in which the survey was conducted are UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Greece, Poland and Netherlands. In each case slightly over 1,000 drivers were polled.
The VINCI Autoroutes Foundation for Responsible Driving is a laboratory/observatory focused on improving road safety. It aims to help bring about changes in driver behaviour and to encourage drivers to contribute to their own safety and to that of other road users.
‘Failure to respect the rules’ is on the increase across Europe. Could this be because an increasing number of new rules are considered by many drivers to be not worthy of respect.
Robert Bolt, St Albans
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Opinions dressed up as facts soon become facts especially if those opinions confirm established biases.
Duncan MacKillop. No surprise – No accident
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Erratum: I stated it was a pdf. It is in fact a Power Point presentation. Software is available free to download for reading.
Derek Reynolds, Salop.
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The report should open in a pdf. But it’s a survey asking drivers over the age of 15yrs their opinions, just over 1000 drivers from each of ten countries, and as Dave Finney has pointed out, from where do their opinions stem?
Derek Reynolds, Salop.
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I am afraid I can’t read the report. If anyone can may I ask if stopping distances and following distances were considered a problem and perhaps a cause or contributory cause to accidents at all.
Have seen many videos on You Tube and it would appear that they have the same distance problem that we have in this country. I wonder why it’s not considered or identified as a problem? Do others have a misconception when it comes to space?
Bob Craven Lancs….Space is Safe Campaigner
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I think that policing has a huge part to play. In England for example the chance of getting caught whilst offending may be much higher. If you feel as though you won’t get caught more people would participate. Maybe they don’t have the fear of getting caught in other countries.
Dean Raven, Manchester
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It would be interesting to know what if any ‘Road Safety Campaigns’ have run in other countries. Along with what type of enforcement is carried out. However,it looks like all our efforts to get across the safety messages about in car phone use have worked here!
Tina Bracknell
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They conclude their survey shows that “‘risky driving’ is increasing” but another outcome is that drivers seem misinformed regarding the causes of collisions.
Where are drivers getting their views from? Is it simply looking around and assuming what might cause collisions? Or is it information from government road safety messages? I suspect a combination but there is clearly a need to educate road users. If they know the real causes, they are better prepared to prevent collisions but, if they have been misled over the causes of collisions, then they may change their behaviour in the wrong way, causing more to be injured. Interesting survey.
Dave Finney, Slough
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