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74% Of Drivers Are Guilty Of The Bad Habits They Hate, Survey Finds

By Louise Ducrocq
15/10/2026
Est. Reading: 3 minutes

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Almost three quarters of drivers admit to doing things behind the wheel that they cannot stand other motorists doing, according to new research.

The survey of British drivers found that 74% were guilty of the very driving habits they complain about in others, with refusing to let another vehicle pull out topping the list.

A total of 17% admitted to refusing to let another vehicle pull out, while 14% confessed to failing to indicate when turning or changing lanes. The same proportion admitted to refusing to let another car merge into their lane.


Other common double standards included failing to thank another driver after being let out and failing to acknowledge someone who had given way, both at 12%.

Cutting into a queue of traffic and being impatient with a learner or inexperienced driver were also on the list, with 11% admitting to each habit.

Meanwhile, one in ten drivers admitted to making an offensive hand gesture towards another motorist, despite disliking that behaviour when it is directed at them.

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A further 8% confessed to driving too close to the vehicle in front, while 7% admitted to hogging the middle lane.

Tesla drivers were identified as the worst offenders in the survey, with 88% admitting to breaking their own standards behind the wheel.

The research also looked at the driving habits people find most irritating. Driving too close to another vehicle in wet or icy conditions topped the list, with 38% naming it as something they cannot stand.

Using fog lights unnecessarily annoyed 35% of respondents, while 30% said they disliked motorists who set off with only a small section of a frosted or iced windscreen cleared.

Despite the complaints, 96% of those surveyed described themselves as good and polite drivers.

However, 93% said that some other motorists were bad drivers, while 2% believed all other drivers on UK roads were below par.

The findings suggest that many motorists hold others to higher standards than they apply to themselves.

On average, motorists said they became annoyed by another driver's behaviour around 35 minutes into a typical journey. They also reported receiving a friendly wave of acknowledgement from another driver around 15 times a week.

Although the survey was carried out among British drivers, the findings raise a familiar question for motorists across Ireland: are we as good behind the wheel as we think we are?

 

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With road deaths continuing to be a serious concern, Radio Nova is putting its platform behind a nationwide road safety initiative aimed at improving awareness and helping people stay safer on Irish roads.

The station is joining 20 other independent radio stations in the campaign, which will see broadcasters create and air their own road safety content over the coming year.

Together, the 21 stations will broadcast more than 1,200 pieces of content, including more than 100 documentary and discussion programmes and around 1,100 shorter feature episodes.

For Radio Nova, the programming will include practical road safety information, expert interviews and real-life experiences, with content developed specifically for its audience across Dublin and the surrounding counties.

Follow the initiative here.

The campaign will also feature first-hand accounts from people who attend road collisions and support those affected, alongside information and analysis from An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and local authorities.

Radio Nova will also highlight the experiences of people directly affected by road collisions, helping bring home the consequences of dangerous driving and the importance of making responsible choices on every journey.

The project is supported by the News Reporting Scheme, which helps fund public interest journalism through Coimisiún na Meán and the Exchequer.

Listeners can find Radio Nova's road safety features and programmes on the station's website.

Louise Ducrocq

Written by Louise Ducrocq

Louise is an expert content creator, and online author for Radio Nova. She's evolved in a few different fields, including mental health and travel, and is now excited to be part of the wonderful word of Radio.

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