In a survey of 1,000 adults, nearly three in ten people cited one particular behind-the-wheel behaviour as the most inconsiderate.
A recent
survey has found that dangerous overtaking is the most annoying
driving habit among people in Ireland.
Commissioned by Peopl Insurance, 1,000 adults nationwide were surveyed on their most disliked driving habits, of which nearly three in 10 (27%) cited dangerous overtaking. This was closely followed by failure to use indicators, which almost one in four (24%) reported as the most inconsiderate behind-the-wheel action.
According to the research, Ireland's top five most disliked driving habits are:
- Dangerous overtaking - 27%
- Not using an indicator - 24%
- Driving too fast - 13%
- Driving to slow - 10%
- Not letting other drivers out - 8%
Annoying driving habits
In a statement accompanying the survey findings, Peopl Insurance CEO Paul Walsh explained:
“If you've ever driven on Ireland's regional and local roads, you've likely witnessed how quickly an accident could occur due to impatient drivers attempting to overtake other motorists on narrow roads with limited visibility.
"Interestingly, the survey found that 30% of female respondents expressed dislike for this practice, compared to 23% of their male counterparts.
"Overall, the results suggest that women are more likely to experience anxiety towards driving habits that have the potential to endanger lives, such as driving too fast, while men are more annoyed by discourteous driving behaviours, such as not letting people out.”
Other highlights of the Peopl Insurance survey included the following:
- Older respondents also appear to be more sensitive to dangerous overtaking on the road. 32% of those aged over 55 cited this as the most annoying driving habit compared to just 9% of those aged between 25 and 34.
- Twice as many people in the 25 to 34 age group (23%) as in the group aged 35 to 44 (11%) were annoyed by motorists who drive slowly.
- Men are much less tolerant of drivers who do not move off when the light turns green than women are, with 6% of men irked by this compared to 1% of women.
- Men are also more likely than women to be aggravated by drivers who do not let other motorists out, with 10% of men identifying this as the most annoying driving trait compared to only 6% of women.
Meanwhile, in regard to Ireland's capital, Walsh observed:
"Dubliners are more likely than those living in any other county to feel frustrated by drivers who don't allow them to merge (16% of Dubliners cited this as the most annoying driving behaviour) and by those who don't move when the traffic light turns green (6%).
"This finding may reflect the fact that Dublin experiences more traffic congestion and a higher risk of collisions, which leads to higher expectations for appropriate driving behaviours.”
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