According to a recent study, British drivers think that around a third of motorists on the road could do with upgrading their driving manners.
From lack of indicating to not even getting a simple thank you when you’ve let someone out; it’s the small things that make all the difference when you’re trying to negotiate Britain’s oversubscribed roads.
Yes the roads might be busy, and chaos rules over most rush hour drives, but staying polite could save you from a stressful, congested commute, give your blood pressure a break and see you smiling instead of frowning while on the move.
At CDG, we’ve compiled the top ten irks that the British public feel make for bad driving manners…
Not saying thank you!
It sounds so simple, but a little thank you goes a long way. Not only does it make the person you are thanking smile, but also makes you feel good about yourself. So next time someone lets you out, or waits for you while you negotiate parked cars, give them a little wave and a smile!
Indicator? What’s that?
Not indicating is not only dangerous; it’s also really frustrating for other road users. That blinking orange light is there for a reason; to let other drivers know your intentions. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting stuck at a roundabout as no one is indicating, so don’t be that person, use your indicators!
Speeding through town
As annoying as they might be, especially if you’re running late and have a clear road in front of you; speed limits have been assigned to roads with safety in mind, so suck it up and keep to the limit. Likewise, if you find yourself driving at 40 mph in the fast lane of a motorway, it might be time to reassess things; driving unreasonably slowly can also be dangerous for other road users.
Mobile phone + driving = disaster
Not only is using your phone while behind the wheel illegal (and expensive should you be caught), it’s also ridiculous. Why so many drivers think that their call is so important it’s worth a potential crash escapes us. If you need to make an urgent call, find a safe spot to pull over before dialling those digits, otherwise put the mobile down and wait to make the call.
Not knowing when to back off
According to UK motorists, tailgating is the most annoying habit of other drivers. This is particularly frustrating when you’re in a convoy of traffic on the motorway and no one is going anywhere in a hurry; sitting on the bumper of my car is not going to get the tailgater to their destination any quicker, so back off!
Cruising in the wrong lane
If you look to your left while driving on the motorway and someone is undertaking you, chances are you’re in the wrong lane, so pull over. Middle lane hogging is very bad driving manners and can cause queues of traffic behind you; police now have the power to issue an on the spot fine for this kind of bad lane etiquette, so if you’re not overtaking anything, get into the left hand lane.
Getting irate
There’s nothing like a bit of road rage to set you up for the day; why is it polite and cool-headed people turn into homicidal maniacs when they step behind the wheel of a car? Driving on Britain’s busy roads can bring out the worst in you, but when you feel the red rage rise, try counting to ten or playing some soothing tunes. Getting stressed and angry doesn’t do anyone any favours so don’t let your frustration overrun you!
Not letting anyone in
Everyone is in a hurry, all the time. Our lives are so busy and full of tasks that sometimes simple manners go by the wayside. If you’ve ever tried to change lanes when the roads are busy you’ll know how unflinching people can be in the scrooginess, so next time you’re in a queue that someone needs to join, or crawling along the motorway and a junction comes up; let your fellow driver in.
Dumping and driving
Dropping litter out of your car window is another grievance of UK drivers. The earth is not a bin; keep your litter to yourself until you can stash it safely in the trash.
And finally, never saying sorry!
It takes nothing to say sorry, and people find it very hard to stay angry if you flash a quick apology after making a mistake on the roads.
Why is it that there are several well known (mainly rude) gestures to express disapproval of another driver’s action(s) but no generally recognisable gesture to say one admits one has just done something stupid & is sorry?
A raised hand is all you need to say sorry.