Tailgaters, high parking costs and people who don’t indicate are some of the most annoying things about driving, according to UK motorists. The findings emerged in a study of 2,000 people who regularly drive conducted to highlight the common irritations faced daily on Britain’s roads.
Researchers found 65% of drivers regularly feel stressed behind the wheel, and are usually feeling anxious or annoyed within 16 minutes of stepping foot in the car.
Other things guaranteed to drive people mad include drivers cutting in, motorcyclists who weave in and out of traffic, and people overtaking when you’re already doing the speed limit.
High petrol prices, the need to get the car serviced, taxed or taken for its MOT are amongst the top 50 driving bugbears.
Simon Pearson, Commercial Director for First Bus in Manchester, which commissioned the research, said:
“Many people use the car every day of the week – commuting to work, ferrying the family round, doing the shopping or taking day trips.
“On journeys where there is no particular hurry, the odd traffic jam or getting lost is no big deal.
“But on days where drivers want to get somewhere quickly and efficiently – such as when commuting to work, taking the children to school or getting into town – high parking costs, busy traffic, road works and inconsiderate drivers can take its toll.”
The study shows other road users are largely to blame for motorists getting fed up on a car journey.
In particular, boy racers speeding off at the lights and arrogant sports car drivers all cause upset on the road.
Caravans, lorries that look like they’re about to tip over and tractors holding everyone up also appear on the list.
And many drivers admit to getting nervous if they have backseat drivers in the car, or people watching when they are trying to park.
Researchers found the average person gets in the car 10 times a week and travels for at least 24 minutes each time.
This means they are spending up to 208 hours – the equivalent of nearly nine whole days – at the wheel of the car.
Four in 10 people reckon they feel more stressed on their morning commute to work than at any other point in the week, while 36 per cent loathe driving at weekends because of all the inexperienced drivers on the road.
Simon Pearson continues:
“The good news for motorists is that all of these irritations can be overcome by hopping on the bus.
“They can also get some of those 208 hours back to do the things they want such as reading a book or sending emails.
“We’re all about saving our customers both time and money and making sure they arrive at their destination relaxed and happy.
“Travelling by bus can be cheaper and less stressful than traveling by car.”
TOP 50 DRIVING BUGBEARS
1. Drivers who don’t indicate
2. High parking costs
3. Being tailgated even though you’re doing the speed limit
4. Potholes in the road
5. Seeing motorists using their phones
6. Drivers cutting you up
7. Ridiculous petrol prices
8. Traffic jams
9. Motorcyclists who weave in and out of traffic
10. Getting lost
11. Badly parked cars leaving no space for you
12. Noticing someone has scratched your car while it was parked
13. Slow drivers
14. People not saying thank you when you let them out
15. Road works
16. Cyclists who don’t use cycle paths
17. Middle lane drivers
18. Other people not letting you merge onto motorways
19. Getting a parking ticket
20. Speed bumps
21. Undertaking
22. People not giving way to the right
23. Driving in the fog
24. Other drivers overtaking you when you are doing the speed limit
25. People that flick ash out of the window
26. Speed cameras
27. Driving in torrential rain
28. Getting a speeding ticket
29. Boy racers trying to speed off before you at the traffic lights
30. Breaking down
31. Putting the car in for an MOT
32. People who don’t give way because they are mean
33. Backseat drivers
34. Taxing the car
35. Bird poo on the windscreen which smears when you use the wipers
36. Arrogant sports car drivers
37. Needing the toilet on a long journey
38. Caravans
39. Little princess on board stickers
40. ‘Boy racer’ cars with spoilers, UV lights etc.
41. Unnecessary use of horns
42. Tractors
43. Children hovering at the side of the road
44. Running over rabbits or other wildlife and feeling terrible
45. Driving next to huge lorries on a roundabout that look like they’ll tip over
46. People looking at you when you are trying to park
47. De-icing the car and getting cold hands
48. Having to service the car
49. Simply having to fill the car up with petrol
50. Missing motorway exits / taking the wrong one